Super Cool became the first three year old since Saintly seventeen years ago to win the Group 1 $1m Darley Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington today.
Super Cool beats Fiveandahalfstar in the Australian Cup. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
And Super Saturday became the day for the three year olds with Super Cool fighting out the finish with Victoria Derby winner Fiveandahalfstar following Shamexpress taking out the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) forty-five minutes earlier.
Winning trainer Mark Kavanagh had a huge sigh of relief knowing that he has got another Group 1 winner in the stable after his stable star Atlantic Jewel has been forced onto the sideline through injury.
“Relief, relief,” Kavanagh sighed.
“We had a quiet year last year and we cleaned out a lot of horses who had to be replaced and the young horses are starting to fire up, we’re on our way of getting back.”
“We went through a tough stage and bit the bullet, cleaned out a lot of horses and replaced them and now we’re starting to reap the fruit.”
Super Cool and Fiveandahalfstar fought out another titanic battle after the pair produced the same result in the Group 2 $220,000 BMW Caulfield Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield on February 23.
And the two three year olds also finished first and second in the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington last Spring with Fiveandahalfstar taking the honours on that occasion.
Michael Rodd was super confident leading up to the Australian Cup and knew that Super Cool had the necessary turn of foot to finish off a solidly run race.
“He just worked unbelievable on Tuesday morning, you just wouldn’t believe what he pulled out,” Rodd said.
“And he’s normally a real lazy track worker. I thought if I could just have average luck he should be too good for them.”
As expected Glass Harmonium took up the running and put on a solid pace with Fiveandahalfstar sitting in third spot with Rodd on Super Cool cruising along in fifth spot on the fence.
At the three hundred metres Glen Boss let Fiveandahalfstar ($11) slide to the front but Rodd started to chase on Super Cool ($5) and after getting on terms shortly after was too strong close to the line to score by a short half head.
Tanby ($26) ran home well for third four lengths away with stablemate Green Moon ($3.80 favourite) holding on for fourth.
