Mark returned some past triumphs when selecting an unnamed brother to FLYING EVEN BETTOR for $120,000 at Karaka Sunday. And also o one major disappointment now forgotten
The Bettor’s Delight colt is from a prolific family and while it hasn’t left champions some have been outstanding performers.Flying Even Bettor was one of the best a top horse just a couple of lengths from being a star for All Stars.
His record before leaving for America where he clocked 1.50.6 did not look flash at 3 wins from 18 starts but when you analyse the form you can understand how Mark would be taking a close look at his full brother. As a two year old he rated the 2nd best in the country,winning the Kindergarten Stakes but finding One Change too strong in Sires Stakes and Harness Jewels finals.
His best effort overall was possibly his fourth in the Woodlands Northern Derby behind Amazing Dream,Copy That and One Change.Amazing Dream,the first to complete the Northern Oaks/Derby double in 40 years, was a superstar,Copy That would become one and One Change had been the best two year old of the crop.
Typical of Flying Even Bettor’s luck was the Sires Stakes Final of that season . He drew gate 7 was caught three wide and had to move forward to sit parked on a hot pace.Understandably he battled the last 100m,One Change coming off the trail to hold out Copy That.
In the PGG Sales Final he was third to One Change and Bad to the Bone with South Coast Arden fourth. You couldn’t say he shirked the hard yards.
He was in fact in the first three in 15 of his 18 starts at two and three and the chances of a full brother given Mark’s stamp of approval equalling or better that seem good.
There are any number of good horses from the family including Lumen Caeli a current member of the All Stars team
The disappointment ? Well in one Harness Jewels when Follow The Stars seemed a shoo in for All Stars (2014) there was a mishap in the field and the hot favourite lost his chance. The culprit ? Mighty Flying Major a close relation to yesteday’s colt purchase. But that is in the past. The future is looking bright.