Get It Gizmo Lands Rough And Tumble Topgun

IT was a shock result to Saturday night’s Group 1 Topgun with Get It Gizmo winning the $150,000 to-the-winner invitation for Harry Manolitsis.

IT was a shock result to Saturday night's Group 1 Topgun with Get It Gizmo winning the $150,000 to-the-winner invitation for trainer Harry Manolitsis at double figure odds.

By Manolitsis' own admission the son of Kinloch Brae was teetering on the edge of selection for the showpiece event, with the hugely talented youngster coming into the group 1 invitation with a question mark around his form, following a below par trial in the race lead up.

WATCH: Group 1 Topgun win by Get It Gizmo

"I haven't been happy with him at all but I worked and worked on him to get him as good as I could … I'd never massaged a dog before in my life but I haven't stopped this week," said a stunned Manolitsis after the race.

"His trial leading into the race was a grade 4 trial."

Taking his place from box two, Get It Gizmo, third in the recent Million Dollar Chase Final at Wentworth Park, made full use of some early race carnage that saw race favourite Sennachie fall heading through the first turn.

In a race of high action, Get It Gizmo whizzed up on the rails and sailed to a handy lead, with the people's dog Feral Franky and Whiskey Riot hot in pursuit.

But in the drive to the line Get It Gizmo proved far too strong, landing the $150,000 to-the-winner prize in 30.08 – the slowish time indicative of the way the race was run.

Feral Franky lost no admirers finishing 2 ¾ lengths second, while it was another 1 ¼ lengths to Whiskey Riot in third.

The hard luck stories were the tale of the race, arguably led by boom youngster Shima Shine who was charging across from box seven before being put on his haunches.

Interestingly, the first four runners across the line recorded the slowest four first splits in the race, again highlighting the competitive nature of a race that brought Australia's eight best credentialled sprinters together.

Meanwhile, earlier in the night the Group 1 Topgun Stayers (725m) was secured by Australia's most consistent and versatile chaser Blue Moon Rising for John and Minnie Finn.

Coming from off the pace in a race that changed complexion heading off the top turn the second time around, Blue Moon Rising staved off a gallant Just Terms in the drive to the line to secure his second group 1 success.

The winning time was 42.74, with a neck separating the winner and runner-up at the finish. Boom Down wound up third another two lengths away.

Back in March, Blue Moon Rising, from the famed Fernando Bale x Chica Destacada litter, took out the Group 1 Super Stayers at The Meadows in stirring fashion.

His form since, over all distances, has been nothing short of spectacular.

Saturday night's gripping Topgun victory extended his record to 29 wins from 101 starts, his prize money earnings now a cool $425,000.

With $340,000 in stake earnings for 2019 alone, the prolific winning chaser is comfortably the highest earning stayer for the calendar year.

The group 1 spotlight for the stayers now moves to the Bold Trease at Sandown Park over the Melbourne Cup carnival, where there will be plenty of interest as to whether Tornado Tears features in the series after another indifferent performance in Saturday night's Topgun.

In a stalking position trailing Rajasthan and Bago Bye Bye down the back straight, the four-time group 1 winner again failed to drive through and take a run when it appeared to present itself, a scenario that's likely to leave connections deciding their next move with the champion stayer.

* Pic: Courtesy GRV/Bluestream Pictures

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