Two brilliant NSW Finals at Bulli on Monday night August 13, have seen one superstar in HE KNOWS UNO and a budding superstar in EXCLUSIVE ONE heading to Hobart for the National Finals.
The run of Michael Patterson’s champion He Knows Uno was simply breathtaking. Starting from the cherry, he was beaten for early speed as per usual, but was tightened on the first turn, settling a distant fifth into the back.
At this stage Irish Marina led from Switch Up and Irinka Gabby.
He Knows Uno caught them at the bottom of the back, only to be chopped out again.
He was fourth turning for home, with Switch Up dashing clear, the task seemingly impossible.
As only champions can, he drew on that magical mix of ability and courage to reel the leader in, and burst clear late by 1 1/4 lengths, in 40.58 for the 701 metres. Switch Up held onto second, with Irinka Gabby third.
He Knows Uno already has a Group one staying victory to his credit at Albion Park, and this win took him to 31 wins and 26 placings from 67 starts.
One of Australia’s most popular chasers, his inclusion in the Wrest Point National Distance Final, is a wonderful fillip for the race.
The NSW Sprint Final on the wonderful Bulli 472 metre U-Turn track, had a field worthy of any Group One Final.
Whilst the previously unbeaten odds on favourite Barcia Bale was squeezed out early and never a factor, his main danger on paper, Exclusive One, soon made it a one act affair.
After jumping level with Desalle Bale, Exclusive One soon sped clear wearing the back rug, and he was never threatened to score by 3 3/4 lengths from the hard finishing, wide running Hoover Boy, and Chiselled third after being second until late. His time was another marvellous 26.04, bearing in mind he re-wrote the Bulli record on July 31 running an amazing 29.87.
David Righetti must be stoked that his budding champion is heading to the big Hobart track, given that he is six from six at Bulli, and seemingly handles every box.
He may well start favourite in the Tatts Bet National Sprint Final.
NSW will have a second and most worthy National Finalist in the mighty OAKS ROAD. Despite finishing 4th in the NSW Final, he gains the AGRA wildcard entry, as a proven Group One performer (2012 Perth Cup winner).
Mark Gatt’s mighty son of Spiral Nikita, has won 20 of his 49 starts and over $200,000 in stakes, and is equally at home on any shaped track.