Titan Blazer blitzes them in Mount Gambier Cup
The 2023 Group 3 Mount Gambier Cup has gone the way of an interstate raider, with the Daniel Gibbons trained Titan Blazer proving a bit too classy for the strong field, in front of a monster crowd trackside.
It was a complete performance from the son of Mepunga Blazer, as he was able to handle a sticky box five draw with a fantastic display of speed and tenacity.
The winning time of 29.36 is extremely fast and goes to show what sort of quality it required to win this year's race. Running behind Titan Blazer was the Dave Peckham trained Lochinvar Cahill and Sister Roberta for Tracie Price, who rounded out the placings.
Last year, Titan Blazer came over for the Mount Gambier Cup and ran a sound third in his heat, with that run somewhat paving the way for the chaser to come over again for this year’s edition.
“Well, he was in it last year. I knew a couple of months ago that I was going to go back up again, just because I love racing there and the dogs have gone pretty good there. I’m also training Mr. Anderson for Jason Newman and he kind of wanted him brought up for it as well, so I thought I might as well through a few in.” said Gibbons.
With the winning time being particularly fast for Titan Blazer, it should not come as a surprise, given some of the times that he has been able to run across the country throughout his career, which include a 29.24 at Sandown Park, a 29.74 at The Meadows and a 23.60 at Bendigo.
“I’ve always known that he can run good time, it’s just whether he can get the start right which he did. Once I saw him in front going around the first turn I knew he would be hard to beat after that.”
Gibbons and the family are currently in Bali, which will prove a timely celebration point, but there was a unique viewing spot for the race, with Daniel and his wife, Rebecca, watching the race in the line whilst waiting to board the plane.
“We watched it on our phones while lining up to board the plane! We were cheering him home and had people looking at us like we were idiots!” exclaimed Gibbons
“We will be enjoying cocktails and food by the pool!”
With 25 career wins from 69 starts and a tidy $244,000 in the bank for Titan Blazer, the now three-and-a-half-year-old will continue to be placed in suitable races when they come around.
“We will just keep racing him, he loves racing but we just need to take it easy with him getting older. We might try for the Geelong Cup next.” said Gibbons.
On a fantastic card of racing, some other highlights were the 400m Open Sprint Final which went the way of Nitrogen Outlaw who was simply dominant, leading all the way in a red hot 22.82. The Mount Gambier Cup Consolation race went to the Renee Kenyon trained Blackpool Ryan, with box one proving to be a race winning advantage as he took out the consolation in 29.77.
A fantastic day of racing and no doubt one of the strongest Mount Gambier Cups that we have seen.
Photos: Kurt Donsberg