Black Mumbo wins 2017 Group 1 Harrison-Dawson
BLACK Mumbo broke through for a deserved win at group level on Thursday night at Sandown Park when triumphing in the Group 1 Harrison-Dawson (515m).
The black dog began well from box eight but was turned sideways around the first turn as Queenslander Bubble Guppy (box two) shot through to take the lead.
Down the back, young gun Jimmy Newob (box seven) circled Bubble Guppy to take the lead, with Black Mumbo quickly gathering his momentum to push up into second spot.
Approaching the home turn, it was a race in two as Jimmy Newob and Black Mumbo went stride for stride, with the latter gaining the upper hand in the closing stages and kicking clear to triumph in 29.53.
It was Black Mumbo's fourth appearance at group level, having finished second in the Group 3 Bill Collins Speed Star and qualifying for both the Group 3 Silver Bullet and the Group 2 Ballarat Cup.
“It's about time,” trainer Anthony Karabitsakos quipped.
“I was just hoping he would be able to cross – and he did everything right – [it's] out of this world.”
A son of Stagger and My Path Princess, Black Mumbo has now won 15 of his 42 race starts, with prize money earnings now in excess of $172,000.