News Article

Sundons Salutes, Sky Falling

30 January 2010

Cillas Earl surges to Inter Dominion semi final victory ahead of a weakening Skyvalley

Cillas Earl surges to Inter Dominion semi final victory ahead of a weakening Skyvalley

Who said the SEW-Eurodrive Inter Dominion Trotting Championship was a Chris Lang benefit?

The master Nagambie trainer won a semi final with Sundons Gift, but he was also left shaking his head when Skyvalley went down at the shortest possible TAB price - $1.04 - in the opening 2710-metre qualifier on Saturday night at Ballarat.
Not only did the superstar five-year-old get beaten, he failed to run a place. He finished fifth to only just satisfy the top-six criteria required to make this Saturday night's final at Moonee Valley.
The entire pulled ferociously at his first run since December 11 and driver Chris Lang Jnr admitted after the race that he thought he was in trouble as far out as 1200m.
And Cillas Earl swooped. The Michael Marais-trained-and-driven $25 shot posted an emphatic 4.3-metre win over longshot Bete Noire ($82) with another roughie, $41 chance Solar Active, 1.3m away in third.
Red Samurai (fourth) and Joe Bro (sixth) sandwiched Skyvalley to book their places in the final.
Skyvalley's 29.7-second first quarter was the fastest of the race with 30.4 and 30.5-second closing sections securing a 2:02.5 mile rate.
While Dan Mielicki described Skyvalley's defeat as the biggest upset in all his years of racecalling, Tallarook-based Marais went to Ballarat brimming with confidence.
"I sent the owner instructions to back the horse to win today," Marais said. "This horse is tough and strong and he's on the improve and peaking at the right time."
He'll need to be with Sundons Gift restoring stable confidence when he toyed with his rivals as $1.40 favourite in the latter qualifier.
Acacia Ridge ($11) gave favourite backers another scare when he moved alongside Sundons Gift at the 150m, but Lang clicked his stable star up a gear and he pulled away for a 3.2m win over his long-time foe.
Heyzeal ($21) was 5.7m away in third spot, just clear of the unlucky $5.20 second elect Don King, while Dream A Moment and Kasyanov rounded out the top six.
"He's going super," Lang said of Sundons Gift. "He'll be better for having raced the last two weekends and I think he'll be spot on for next week. I couldn't be happier with him."
The barrier draw for the $250,000 Group 1 final will be held at Moonee Valley on Tuesday.