For a few strides at the very least, Divine Breath loomed to take out the inaugural Four Pillars at Rosehill on Saturday.
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The event itself, a $700,000 feature for Provincial and smaller Metropolitan trainers, had been organised in a matter of weeks to be part of the Sydney spring carnival, but the lightly-raced four-year-old mare looked to be timing her run to perfection.
However, Divine Breath was denied by a daring rails ride from Jason Collett on the Tracey Bartley-trained Kiss Sum, with Anthony Cummings' Dufresne chasing into second and Divine Breath getting the bob in for third.
"It was just like eight weeks ago (the race was announced), it wasn't like a big plan," an emotional Bartley said.
"This horse has had no luck and I'm pleased for Jason who got the split today and he showed this is a very serious horse."
Bartley's Barosa Rosa ran fourth.
The placing ensured Bateup, the owners and slotholder collect $70,000, a handsome prize for a Benchmark 68 rated race framed as the Provincial version of The Kosciuszko.
On Tuesday, Bateup launches a raid at Randwick on Melbourne Cup day with stayer The Guru, a $22,000 cheque on offer for the winner in a BM72.
The Guru didn't respond on a Heavy 10 at Kembla Grange last start, but a pair of runner-up finishes previously has Bateup optimistic the five-year-old gelding can be successful on Cup day.
"He didn't handle the bog track last time, but he's raced well at Randwick before and the 2000m suits," Bateup said. "He ran second to Torrens two starts ago who's gone on and franked that form winning the Listed Tatts Cup, so he should run well."
House proud
Chris Waller has a light-weight shot at the Melbourne Cup after Great House won Saturday's Hotham Stakes, but he's also hunting success at Kembla Grange on Tuesday.
Among them are first starters Peindre - a three-year-old Snitzel filly who has had four trials and recently moved to Waller from the Hawkes stable - and Wine I Am, by I Am Invincible.
They will jump in a 1200m Maiden, just 35 minutes before the race that stops a nation begins at Flemington.
Waller's stable representative Jo Taylor was pleased Great House took luck out of the equation by winning on Saturday and securing his Cup place, even though he now faces a short back-up.
"You take the gamble and save ourselves for the Cup and then get knocked out if you're on the borderline (in order)," she said.
"Today, we certainly made sure that we're in it. With 50 kilos, it is obviously a nice light weight to go into a race like that."
Waller also has four-year-old mare Olivia's Game making her second start in the Sydney direction in the same race as The Guru, having battled away to run five-and-a-half lengths off Mightybeel four weeks ago.
The first at Kembla Grange jumps at 12.05pm, with the track rated a Good 4 and the rail out eight metres.
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Tim Barrow
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
