Dead heat in prelude

Bruce Stewart Contributor

Always Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) and Franco Ezra (Bettor’s Delight) couldn’t be separated, creating a dead heat in the $20,000 Macca Lodge Kindergarten Stakes Prelude at the Wyndham Harness Racing Club meeting today.

Franco Ezra trained by Steve and Amanda Telfer enjoyed the perfect trip behind leader Coba Charged while Always Dreaming after sitting back, moved up at the 800 to sit parked for the second half of the race. Halfway down the straight it looked like Franco Ezra would get to the finishing post first but Always Dreaming dug deep and the pair couldn’t be split.

 Franco Ezra (2) and Always Dreaming (7) dead heating at Wyndham with Coba Charged in the middle (Bruce Stewart Photo)

“He had to do a bit of work, then he mucked around a bit and lugged in a bit late,” Always Dreaming’s trainer Nathan Williamson said. He added “He’s progressed well and the twelve days to the Kindergarten will serve him well. He probably needs to lift his game a bit on today’s performance, but we’ll sharpen him up for the Kindie.”

And on the finish?

“I thought Tim (Williams) had won it and I was shocked to hear it was a dead heat. It’s cool getting a dead heat with Tim because we’re good mates. I shouldn’t have put the polish on his horse the other day,”  (laughter) Williamson said referring to driving Franco Ezra at the Winton trials recently.

Drivers of Franco Ezra and Always Dreaming waiting for the result (Bruce Stewart Photo)

The 64^th edition of the Kindergarten Stakes will be held on Thursday 28^th March. The Group Two race sponsored by Macca Lodge will be run for the highest level of prize money ($60,000) in its sixty three year history.

Meanwhile in another close finish Charlie Brown (Art Major) raced by Ross and Angela Gorton took out the $25,000 MLT Wyndham Cup.

Charlie Brown in the birdcage prior to his Wyndham Cup win (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Trained by Robert and Jenna Dunn and driven by Blair Orange the four year old began slowing before Orange settled him four back on the rails. As the pace slowed, he eased Charlie Brown off the inside running line and he progressed up the lead before Pinseeker took up the running.

Pinseeker leading Charlie Brown with a lap to run in the Wyndham Cup (Bruce Stewart Photo)

With just over a lap to run Got You Covered came round for another lead change pushing Charlie Brown to three back on the inside. When Beach Flybye came round at the 850, Orange got off the inside and followed him up. Turning in, three lengths covered most of the field. Charlie Brown got to the front halfway down the home straight to hold out One Change by a nose with half a head back to Pinseeker in third and favourite Da Vinci a length and a quarter back in fourth.

Charlie Brown (1) winning the Wyndham Cup from One Change (12) and Pinseeker (2) (Bruce Stewart Photo)

The winning time of 4-05.7 was the slowest Wyndham Cup in seven years. The race record of 3-57.0 is held by the 2014 winner Franco Ledger.

Charlie Brown and Blair Orange waiting for the Wyndham Cup call (Bruce Stewart Photo)