Team Corstens and Blake Shinn combined with Melbourne raider Bittercreek (+1000) to claim victory in the Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday afternoon, breaking his maiden at the third time of asking.
The son of Snitzel put the writing on the wall in an impressive second-up performance behind Growing Empire at Moonee Valley on March 23, with the connections electing to bide their time before heading north for the Queensland Racing Carnival.
The decision paid immediate dividends on Saturday, with the two-year-old careering down the centre of the course to secure the $300,00 prize, staving off the late challenge of El Morzillo (+360) in the concluding stages.
The Chris Munce-trained outsider Tiger Tie (+2500) ran them along at a solid clip down the side of the course, with James McDonald electing to press forward to his outside aboard President (+1500).
The leading pair kicked away with 400m left to travel, before some of the key back markers started to come into play – including the quinella pair of Bittercreek and El Morzillo – while Zouna (+700) and Angel Capital (+190) both produced good late splits.
It was all about the winner in the end, however, with stable representative Will Larkin discussing the prospects of their progressive two-year-old.
“Probably the perfect start,” said Larkin.
“We came here thinking the 1200 (metres) might be a bit short as he’d want to stretch out but he’s a good horse still working it out and he put it all together today.
“He’s got a great pedigree. He’s after a couple of Group 1 stakes-placed horses, and he’s a colt, so it is good to get these things on the way through with bigger things to come.”
Blake Shin gave a strong appraisal of his mount, suggesting the best is yet to come from Bittercreek moving forward.
“He’s a beautiful horse,” said Shinn.
“Well sorted out by Troy and Leon. I’m just delighted for Troy and the team. He is quite valuable, he’s got a great page on him, and to get that stakes win and hopefully we’re onwards to bigger things from today.
“(I was) very confident that this horse was smart. I jumped him out prior to his first start and I had quite an opinion of him. He’s run well both times, he’s got a great character about him, great physical.
“The bloodlines are there, he’s got Criterion on his page and I always thought he’d be a nice three-year-old miler so to do what he is doing now are only good signs for the future.”
Bittercreek is now on the fourth line of betting at +1400 for the Group 1 J.J Atkins (1400m) on June 15.