[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
All American three-year-old All Brave kept his undefeated race record in tact at Belmont on Wednesday when getting the verdict in a tight photo finish in the Furphy Handicap (1400m).
Starting on the sixth line of betting at $10, the gelding made the progression from a 1200m Maiden victory on a Good3 track at Kalgoorlie on May 28 to the seven furlongs on a wet Soft6 surface at Belmont after settling one-out and two-back for champion hoop William Pike.
Pike extricated him into the clear on straightening and he finished strongly to hit the line deadlocked with No Peer ($6) and after taking some time to determine the result, the judge eventually found a margin and awarded the win to All Brave by a nose.
Garden Quartz ($26) finished a further neck away in third place.
Now a winner at his two career starts, the Geisel Park-bred All Brave has picked up $54,528 in stake earnings and Westspeed Platinum bonuses.
The Pearce stable will saddle-up Super Romani and Sabbatical Silk at Pinjarra on Thursday before Saturday’s Belmont meeting where a big team featuring Fear The Wind, Queen Alina, Triple Jay, Outspoken Lad and Probity are engaged.