Yellowstone too fast for Champion Bubbler

LOCAL-bred YELLOWSTONE yesterday returned off a two-and-a-half month lay-up to prove his narrow, fast-time victory over LUKSOL on October 30 was no fluke, scoring a solid win over slow-starting 4-5 favourite, imported CHAMPION BUBBLER, at five and a half furlongs.

YELLOWSTONE, who landed the gamble at 6-5 when repelling American LUKSOL by a nose after a heated stretch battle when last out, was sent off at 4-1 as undefeated CHAMPION BUBBLER was firmly backed for a hat-trick of wins.

However, four-year-old YELLOWSTONE got the break he needed, a flying start to track speedsters LUKSOL and TALONA whereas CHAMPION BUBBLER scrambled out next-to-last alongside rank outsider THE GIFTED ONE.

Stalking LUKSOL and TALONA easily, YELLOWSTONE made his bid leaving the half-mile marker with THALOS coming around to join the fray. LUKSOL and TALONA soon gave way in a heated quarter of 23.2, leaving THALOS and YELLOWSTONE to dispute the lead into the lane.

YELLOWSTONE shook loose of THALOS a furlong and a half out with in-form Tevin Foster, setting sail for home while CHAMPION BUBBLER, who came off the turn fourth after mending down the backstretch, launched his run inside the final furlong.

Ridden flat out by Foster, YELLOWSTONE stayed on strongly, winning by a length and a half from CHAMPION BUBBLER, who struggled to get past THALOS before going second a half-furlong out by which time the winner had already flown the coop.

YELLOWSTONE clocked 1:07.3, becoming somewhat of a specialist at five and a half furlongs, having registered his four career wins at the distance.

Foster rode two winners on the nine-race card, his fifth in back-to-back days of racing, after notching a three-timer on Saturday.

Robert Halledeen was also aboard two winners, scoring an easy victory with SMARTY TRADITION in the second and completing his double in the stewards’ room after REJECTED RAJA was awarded the third at the expense of disqualified first-past-the-post FLYBLUEJET.

Racing continues on Saturday.