Pappa Gallo Takes Out The Vic Breeders
Pappa Gallo (3) made the most of his opportunities to land the $25,000 to-the-winner Group Three Cosmic Chief GRV VBIS Maiden Final for trainer Mario Cortese at The Meadows on Saturday night.
The son of Bekim Bale and Bella Ebony (Big Daddy Cool – Ashton's Girl) emphasised the advantage of being in front when he speared the lids to lead the first section in 5.18. Dewana Lass (1) also began well and it was that duo who raced away into the back straight by virtue of avoiding a world of trouble back in the field.
Pappa Gallo remained about three-dogs wide as they raced into the back straight with Dewana Lass a length behind on the fence and poised to strike.
Exiting the back straight the scenario remained the same. Pappa Gallo scouted three wide leaving plenty of room for Dewana Lass to drive through, should she be good enough to do so.
Race favourite Mepunga Hayley (8) had been caught wide further back in the field from the outset but emerged from the pack in a hurry to set up one last crack at the two leaders.
As they swung for home, both Dewana Lass and Mepunga Hayley hooked to the outside and began to unleash withering runs home, but Pappa Gallo found too much and held on to win in 30.31 by a length from Dewana Lass, with Mepunga Hayley a further length away in third.
Of the beaten brigade, Punk Pirate (5) was desperate to get to the rail and, after beginning moderately, speared left. Both Hession Boots (4) and Venom's Lad (2) fell victim to Punk Pirate's penchant for the paint and loss valuable early ground.
As expected, Premier Woofie (6) was away slowly and then found a myriad of trouble on the first turn which all but ended his chances of winning. Lead Into Demise (7) was caught wide for a long part of the journey and, as a result, struggled to get into the race.
Pappa Gallo's victory was the second of his five start career and, with the advantage of VBIS bonuses, he has already earned $39,630 in prize-money.
His next race will be at Sandown this Thursday when he graduates to fifth-grade company from box seven in the final event on the card.