UNDERRATED three-year-old pacer Smokin Mustard showed he will be a force to be reckoned with in the Sires Produce final with a brilliant heat win at New Norfolk on Saturday.
Smokin Mustard had enough early speed to lead from barrier three and once in front driver Ben Rossendell set a solid pace.
But when Rossendell called on the gelded son of Pass The Mustard to extend he left his rivals in his wake and went on to score by 16 metres from Iden Hotshot with Jimndasher Flyer a over three metres astern.
It was Smokin Mustard’s second win of the season from nine outings and only his third career victory but trainer Daryl Bates believes it won’t be his last this time in.
“We’ve been able to sort out a couple of little problems we’ve been having and it has made a difference,” Bates said.
Smokin Mustard probably should have won a few more races but bad draws and mistakes at crucial stages of races proved costly.
Bates also has his other three-year-old Diamonds Are Magic in the Sires Produce final courtesy of the gelding finishing a game second to Drifting West in the remaining heat.
Bates purchased Smokin Mustard and Diamonds Are Magic as weanlings through Paul Ashwood who advised Bates the youngsters were being offered for sale by Victorian trainer-breeder Dean Braun.
“We paid $3000 for both of them (Smokin Mustard and Diamonds Are Magic) and between them they have already won about $16,000 so they have already paid for themselves,” he said.
Listen to what trainer Daryl Bates had to say about Smokin Mustard’s win – click here.