A trip north reaped the barrier draw Alma’s Fury needed to record his maiden stakes success in the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1600m) at Doomben.
Alma’s Fury went down narrowly to All Legal from barrier 15 in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) at his previous outing seven days earlier while barrier 16 ruined his chances when sixth in the Listed Festival Stakes (1500m) two starts back.
"He's had wide barriers at his last three starts and we had to come interstate to draw a good alley," Alma’s Fury’s trainer Paul Murray said.
"This horse is extremely tough so I didn't think the trip or back-up would trouble him."
Alma’s Fury’s luck changed when he drew barrier two for the $200,000 event, giving triple Melbourne Cup-winning rider Glen Boss the opportunity to give the son of Refuse To Bend the perfect trail behind the leaders.
Boss produced Alma’s Fury at the perfect moment. The gelding sprinted brilliantly from the 250 metres before digging deep to hold off the well-performed mare Fillydelphia, who rocketed home to make the finish interesting but failed by a half-neck to reel in Alma’s Fury.
Murray said he would spell Alma’s Fury with a view to taking the five-year-old back to Queensland to compete in Brisbane during the rich winter carnival in 2013.
"He's not a Group One horse but I'll look around for some suitable races around the mile to 2000 metres range," Murray said.
The terrific galloper earned a $128,000 winner's cheque for connections, taking his prizemoney tally to more than $367,000 from his five wins.
Congratulations to Alma's Fury's owners – Meringo Stud Synd (Mgr: T Hartnell), Kern Group Horse Syndicates Pty Ltd Synd (Mgr: G Kern), R Lavis, D W Kern, J E Kern & Mrs M Nugent.
© MiStable 2012