Fish Burger leaves rivals stranded

A blowout victory continues Matt Kropp’s hot run of form, with the gelding destroying his rivals at Clifford Park today.

Scott Sweedman and Fish Burger win race one at Clifford Park on Melbourne Cup day, Tuesday, November 5, 2019. Picture: Kevin Farmer

RACING: An effortless frontrunning display saw Fish Burger bolt away with the spoils in the opener at Clifford Park.

The four-year-old bounded straight to the lead from the outside gate for jockey Scott Sweedman in The Event Group Class 3 Plate over the 1000m trip.

Despite being ranked as the outsider of the field at $6, the gelding never looked in any danger approaching the bend, with Remember Mary ($2.20 fav) under pressure upon straightening.

Fish Burger kicked on strongly in the straight, scoring by five and a quarter lengths for trainer Matt Kropp from Remember Mary, with Harryandthetiger ($5.50) a further two and quarter lengths back in third.

Sweedman said it wasn’t the initial plan to take up the frontrunning role,

“Matt thought he would be up there but we certainly weren’t confident of leading them,” Sweedman said.

“We pinged the gates and you could nearly say that was the end of the session because he just jumped, run, travelled well and was just a bit too good for them.

“We drew five of five, and heading into the first corner I didn’t have to dig him up or anything.”

Sweedman said the gelding would have no problems stepping up to the six-furlong trip in the future if Kropp opted to.

“Matt’s young fella Will asked me if it could run 1200m, and I think he could every day of the week,” he said.

“If he races like that I’m confident he could run the trip out.”

The win was the second of Fish Burger’s career after saluting at Clifford Park in his second race start in July 2018.

Scherzare ($2.80) settled fourth in the run, but was unable to handle the drop back in distance from 1300m on Saturday night, dropping out to finish last.

Shiitake ($5.50) gave trainer Beaudesert trainer Leanne Gore her first winner, scoring by a half length in the Sebel Maroochydore Benchmark 55 Handicap (870m).

Gore had her first runner at her home track on Saturday, with the Potato Pontiff finishing second.

Shiitake had four trainers prior to joining Gore, with just the one win at Gatton from her 18 starts.

The winner was ridden by apprentice Montanna Savva in a time of 0:52.19.

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