Expect to see Cascabel return to the metropolitan area sooner rather then later following an impressive victory in the Ballarat BMW Country Showcase 0 - 68 Handicap (1200m) for three-year-olds at Ballarat this afternoon.
The Robbie Griffiths trained Cascabel ($3.80-$4-$3.20) defeated Testaguy ($2.50-$4.20) by three quarters of a length with the incredibly unlucky Wojcinski ($5) a further half a length away in third.
While Cascabel surged to the front inside the 250m mark, the Danny O'Brien trained Wojcinski was held up several times trying to obtain sufficient galloping room and burst between runners.
Experienced rider Steven Arnold simply had nowhere to go on Wojcinski. Even when attempting to switch off heels and commence a run on the outside he was momentarily held up.
The last 50 metres of the race saw both placegetters motor late however Cascabel had opened up an unassailable lead.
To add injury to insult, Arnold was found guilty of careless riding and was suspended for 12 meetings.
Arnold will commence his suspension after this Saturday's Flemington meeting but will miss next week's "Super Saturday" meeting at Morphettville on May 2 and the entire Warnambool carnival which runs from May 5-7.
Despite the little luck his rivals may have received in the run, credit must be still given to Cascabel who was finding the line well.
"He's not a brilliant beginner out of the gates so you've got to lift him out but once you get your spot he travels sweetly all the time," jockey Peter Mertens said after the race.
Cascabel returned from a 17 week spell today and Mertens believes the son of Bel Esprit will take benefit from the run.
"I like him a lot but he was a bit like a train today, carrying a bit of pudding."
"I think he'll improve a lot with the run," Mertens said.
Beaten by less than half a length on debut at Sale, Cascabel won a 3yo Maiden at Ballarat over 1200m at his next start which featured the debut of Coubertin - a half brother to Elvstroem and Haradasun.
The three-year-old gelding was placed at his next two outings - both in town - when second behind the much heralded Keano and third behind Mr Paparazzi.
Cascabel is by Bel Esprit out of Gogo Doll, a dam that has produced seven to race with five of those to taste racetrack success.
Her best performed progeny is the stakes placed galloper Soi Cowboy, who ran second behind Lions Gate in the 2004 Listed Geelong Classic (2200m).
That was followed by an fighting fourth in the VRC Derby (2500m) at only his fourth career start
Other notable gallopers from the dam include the Nikki Burke trained Altjira and moderately performed Scold, who ran fourth in the 2008 Wangaratta Cup (1600m).
Cascabel has had five starts for two wins and two placings with $62,550 in the bank.
PICS - Greg Irvine
Race 5 - Ballarat BMW Country Showcase Handicap - 1200m
1st CASCABEL (L Palmer, D Ricardo, L Newman, P Beckham, G Burgess, M Baker, Ricky Bobby Synd Mgr: S McCarthy, Sceptic Racing Synd Mgr: D Goss & Mrs B Gallaher's bay gelding 3 years Bel Esprit-Gogo Doll by Kala Dancer) Peter Mertens for Robbie Griffiths
2nd TESTAGUY - Steven King for Steve Richards
3rd WOJCINSKI - Steven Arnold for Danny O'Brien
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