[PHOTO: George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images]
Speech machine Acromantula set the Moonee Valley track alight second-up from a spell on Saturday when taking out the $175,000 Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) only 0.21sec outside of the track record.
Ridden by Craig Williams, the Written Tycoon six-year-old was backed into $3.40 second favouritism prior to the jump and found the front before railing like a greyhound into the straight and skipping clear to defeat Hypothetical ($8.50) by a length in 00:57:05.
Ashford Street ($21) finished a further two-and-a-quarter lengths away in third place.
Acromantula put the writing on the wall for his first Victorian victory when beaten a neck into third place at the same course a fortnight earlier and had the benefit of considerable weight swings in his favour under the Set Weights plus Penalties conditions of the Carlyon Stakes.
Bred and raced by Alan and Sue Olive at Gold Front Thoroughbreds, the gelding has now had 25 career starts for eight wins, 10 minor placings and almost $550,000 in total earnings.
Co-trainers Daniel and Ben Pearce now have a decision to make regarding his upcoming assignments, with the $300,000 McEwen Stakes (1000m) on September 9 and the $750,000 Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) on September 9 at Moonee Valley potential targets before a return to Perth for the $1.5 million Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on December 2.
Acromantula’s win follows previous Victorian success with Vital Silver, Angelic Ruler and Pushin’ Shapes featuring prominently on the east cost for the stable in previous years.