GODOLPHIN WIN THE TULLOCH

Character wins the Tulloch Stakes

Jockey Tommy Berry produced a well timed run to help Godolphin and James Cummings runner Character win the Group Two Contest but there several noticeable runs and provide ominous form lines leading up to the Group 1 Australian Derby on Saturday.

One in particular was the stand out run of Murray Baker and Andrew Foresman trained galloper Regal Lion who hammered home late to get over the top of the field but fall short of catching the Godolphin runner.

Baker and Foresman have a solid record in the Derby having traveled across the ditch to win four of the last nine Australian Derbies. Baker will be looking to go out on a high after deciding to retire at the end of the season with Regal Lion looking like a live chance.

The Tulloch played out perfectly for Character with a strong front running effort by Zouman stretching the field out by 20 lengths which allowed Berry to pounce late with the Cummings trained Gelding and steam past to win.

“He stayed very well and hopefully he’s heading to the Derby next weekend,” Berry said.

“I probably knocked that edge off him which is good because the way he raced, if he did that over 2400m it would probably find him out.

“It might be a good thing for him. He has had a decent blow and they ran along quite well.

“I had to use him up a bit before the corner to get on the back of James (McDonald) so it wasn’t as easier run as I would have liked for him but I will leave it up to James (Cummings).”

Character was shortened from $18 into $11 for the Australian Derby after his win while Regal Lion was slashed from $34 into an $8 elect to sit solo on the third line of betting.

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