Dyna Willow Wins Betfair Gold Cup And Smashes Track Record
Australia's most consistent stayer, Dyna Willow (6), added two more strings to her already impressive bow by taking out the Group Three Gold Cup at Wentworth Park on Saturday night and smashing the track record in the process.
Beginning smartly from box six, Dyna Willow landed second behind early leader Born Ali (3). The two set the early pace with Born Ali holding a three length lead past the post the first time.
By the time they headed into the back straight, Dyna Willow had whittled the lead down to a length and loomed large.
Down the back, the daughter of Collision and Horizon Bale (Stately Bird – Vodeena Bale) put on the after-burners and opened up a margin on the field in the twinkling of an eye.
The further they went, the further the 28kg red-brindle bitch got away, eventually winning by 8 3/4 lengths in an imperious display of chasing.
She stopped the clock at a sizzling 41.74, shaving some 0.07 off the previous track record held by champion bitch Miata.
Born Ali hung on for second with Lucy Wires (1) coming from the clouds to finish third.
Of the beaten brigade, Cawbourne Looney (2) began slowly but put on a brilliant display of mid-race pace to get to third, only just being nudged out of the placings on the line. Eleazar (4) did not show her usual early speed and found herself very wide on the track. As a result she was never in the hunt.
Avondale Maurick (5) began well and ran as well as he can but was simply outclassed, finishing seventh. Destini Fireball (7) landed in fourth early and was very stiff not to run second after running into the back of Born Ali as he was about to pass her swinging for home. Suits Us (8) also ran a gallant race, looming as a solid place chance on the home turn before finishing fifth.
The win takes the Steve Collins trained Dyna Willow's career record to 18 wins from 44 starts and over $230,000 in prizemoney.