A BRILLIANT burst of speed to surge from last to first then a display of toughness down the home straight - it was the sort of performance that has trainer Michael Muscat thinking of bigger things for Bling It Up.
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Muscat revealed he has plans to race Bling It Up in the two-year-old colts and geldings New South Wales Breeders Challenge series, and if he can show the same qualities that were on display at the Bathurst Paceway on Friday he's a genuine contender.
Having spotted the in-form Amanda Turnbull driven colt Bettor Keppel, the short $1.35 favourite, more than 15 metres, Bling It Up not only had the acceleration to quickly make up that deficit down the back straight but the strength to win their duel after turning for home.
Bling It Up clocked a 28.1 seconds final quarter as he won by 3.3m.
"That's really his best way of racing. He's got really high speed so when he sat up like that he's pretty lethal," Muscat said.
"When he headed Amanda's horse around the turn I was confident that he could keep going, but I just wasn't sure I could get to Amanda from being that far back.
"I knew he's got a good sprint, but Amanda's horse was a long way in front of us, so I wasn't sure. I didn't think there was that much between the two horses."
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While Bling It Up, the son of 2015 Shirley Turnbull Memorial winner Bling It On, went into Friday night's Soho Tribeca @ Llowalong Farms Pace (1,703m) with just one career win, Muscat liked his chances.
From a tricky barrier seven draw driver Mat Rue dropped back to the rear with Bling It Up, while up front Bettor Keppel won the early speed battle to cross and take the lead.
It wasn't until they ran past the 1600m mark that Rue made his move, but when he asked Bling It Up to give, the gelding showed the high speed his trainer knew was there.
In the space of 200m Bling It Up, who was working two and three wide, went from last to first.
Bettor Keppel, who was also a last start winner, fought hard on the inside down the straight but why having had an easier trip he could not reel in Bling it Up. The winning mile rate was a 1:58.5.
"We've always liked him, he just hasn't been in the right races and had some tough draws, draws are everything," Muscat said
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