Gary Peach has turned down a “big” interstate offer for strike rate sensation Action Girl, after the prolific provincial speedster’s impressive city debut at The Meadows last weekend.
Peach has enjoyed a sensational run with his phenomenal Aston Dee Bee x Weeping Lass litter, but the Cape Clear trainer/breeder took special pleasure – and satisfaction – in Action Girl’s first appearance in the big smoke.
Peach took his time bringing the Group 2 Healesville Cup finalist to town.
She stepped up to 500m for the first time after winning 28 of her 41 starts on country tracks, but it was worth the wait in a sub-30sec victory.
“They were all canning her, saying she wouldn’t get the distance,” Peach said.
“Just because I hadn’t taken her there, they thought she couldn’t run 500m, but I knew she’d get it.
“She’d only had a box-to-box at The Meadows, but she went the best of the day. If they get a strong 450m at Ballarat, they’ll run 525m at The Meadows – that’s my theory – and Action Girl has gone 25.11sec at Ballarat.”
Contesting a Grade 5 heat, Action Girl ($2.10F) ran 4.99sec early but had to work harder than anticipated to find the front from box six, with Joliet Bale incredibly running 4.97sec.
But after taking the lead entering the back straight, Action Girl silenced the distance doubters, kicking clear of her rivals in the home straight to score by 2.89 lengths in 29.99sec, her 12th win from her last 14 starts.
WATCH: ‘Winning machine’ ACTION GIRL (B6) brought her sensational provincial form to The Meadows last Saturday night, clocking 29.99sec at her ‘500m’ debut.
Peach wasn’t the only impressed observer.
“I had a big offer from NSW on Monday or Tuesday, but she’s not going anywhere,” Peach revealed.
“They’ve seen she can run ‘500’ now, but she won’t be leaving the property.
“It’s not about the money, it’s the joy they give me.
“The litter has only just turned three, so I’m looking forward to the next six months, if they stay injury free. Action Girl’s pups will be very valuable too.”
Action Girl will be looking to enhance her already imposing resume in Saturday night’s $17,835 Topcat Video Grade 5 final – race 5 at 8.04pm.
Drawn in box 7, from where she’s won five of six career starts, Action Girl is Sportsbet’s $3.60 second elect, with fastest heat winner Hot Scotch (box 3) $2.15 favourite to claim the $12,000 winner’s purse after a 29.75sec qualifying effort.
“You’d like to think she can improve,” Peach said.
“I’d rather be drawn near the inside, but you take what you’re given. It’s a good race; she’ll have to begin.
“I was hoping the reserve (Joliet Bale) wouldn’t get a run. You wouldn’t see two dogs break five seconds early in a Grade 5 heat very often!
“They went head-to-head and were bumping last week and then I thought this will be a test for her when there were a couple of others sitting on her, but she was very strong. She has that great desire.
“There’s always been something popping up in the country for her. I was going to bring her to the city a few months ago, but there weren’t many Grade 5 heats programmed at the time.”
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Peach also trains Action Girl’s classy brother Silver Brute, winner of 29 from 48, his most recent victory a scorching Horsham 410m display on Tuesday, clocking 22.67sec, just .03sec outside the track record.
The litter also includes last week’s G2 Warragul Cup victor Mobile Legend (15 from 33), trained by Daryl Brennan.
Peach enjoyed feature race success with the potent dam-line at Warrnambool on Thursday night when Mr. Beets continued the exciting start to his career in the $11,000 Aston Derby Final (450m).
Mr. Beets, a son of Bernardo and Mother Hannah, a daughter of Weeping Lass and litter sister to 2019 G2 Bendigo Cup winner Crimson Vixen, claimed his eighth win from 11 starts with a Best Of Night 25.03sec Derby victory.
