As the ‘midnight hour’ of winter’s start approaches, Sale trainer Chris Tilley had a day to remember today.
He won the Healesville Derby (350m) with Midnight Monarch (presentation above), and around two and a half hours later Wake The Dragon ($13.80) took out a Restricted Win (440m) at Sale.
Tilley collected $7250 for both wins, which equates to approximately $48 per minute.
Leading all the way from Box 7, Midnight Monarch ($3.20) notched his sixth win from eight starts defeating Percy’s Magic ($4.00) by 3.4L, with Curlin’ Merlin ($10.10) a further 2.9L away third in a slick 18.83sec. Favourite Smart As Jack ($3.00) finished fifth, 11.7L from the winner.
Midnight Monarch’s winning time was only 3L off the 18.65sec track record, set by Healesville cult idol Peter Galo in August last year.
Owned by the We Got The Lot syndicate, Midnight Monarch (Mar ’18 Barcia Bale x Sovereign Queen) is undefeated in three starts up Healesville’s straight track.
WATCH: Midnight Monarch (7) clock a flying 18.83sec win in today’s Healesville Derby.
Meanwhile, Golden Square owner-trainer Dallas Massina snared the Healesville Oaks (350m) with ultra-consistent speedster Bareki.
The $5600-to-the-winner event was deemed a race in two between Bareki and the Lisa Davis trained Bring Your Banjo (Box 1) – a winner of 14 races from 26 starts.
However, Bareki (Mar ’18 Barcia Bale x Nallak) turned the tables on Bring Your Banjo, who defeated her in a heat last week.
Bareki ($1.80F) came out flying from Box 8 and had 1.26L to spare over Bring Your Banjo ($2.70), with Aston Mirage ($11.00) almost 1.6L away third in 19.12sec. She registered her sixth win from only nine starts.
Massina made it a training double five races later when Julana ($1.30F) scored over 300m in 16.72sec.
Julana (May ’16 Dyna Double One x Chelabella) recorded her 11th win from 16 starts.
WATCH: Bareki (8) takes out today’s Healesville Oaks over Bring Your Banjo (8) and Aston Mirage (7)
Bareki (8) wins the 2020 Healesville Oaks. Photos: Jason McKeown.
