Single Bullet breaks drought with some help from above
The enigmatic Single Bullet produced a scintillating performance to storm home from last and take out the Chandon S Sprint (1000m) to break a 594-day winless drought.
The son of Not A Single Doubt has always shown above average ability, taking out the Group III Pago Pago as a two-year-old but had failed to return to the winners’ stall in 11 subsequent runs until Saturday’s remarkable last to first victory.
Trainer Gary Portelli suggested it wasn’t just the drop back to the 1000m distance that got the gelding across the line, indicating he may have had some help from above.
“That was good, that was the Single Bullet that we see at trials and trackwork,” Porterlli said. “It is just a thrill to see him back.
“After his last run I saw him pulling and carrying on over 1200m and I just gave up on the fact that he just can’t get a solid six furlongs.
“I thought, we’ll back off find a race and just aim at it and we had him spot on.
“I have to put out a special mention to one of the part-owners, unfortunately he passed away, Gary Powell. He loved this horse. He lived and breathed this horse and I’m sure he is watching up in heaven.
“This win wasn’t all my doing obviously – I hope his family have taken something out of today.”
Tommy Berry picked up his second winner for the day aboard Single Bullet ($8.50), riding a patient race at the rear of the field before storming down the outside to sweep to the lead and defeat Revenire ($2.70) by three quarters of a length, with Beacon ($5) a further length back in third.
Single Bullet (Not A Single Doubt x Cheetara) was sold to Gary Portelli Racing at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale for $150,000 with the Group 3 winner’s earnings just shy of $400,000 for connections.
Copy: Racenet.
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