With drop back in class and distance, Wednesday's $150,000 Group III Absolut Stakes (1000m) set up perfectly for the Joe Pride-trained Ball Of Muscle to break back into the winner's circle and he didn't disappoint.
Competitive against the best sprinters in Sydney such as In Her Time, Impending, Redzel, English and Clearly Innocent, Ball Of Muscle faced nothing of that quality here particularly with The Quarterback looking a shadow of his former self.
The entire field made a beeline to the outside fence. Glyn Schofield allowed the speedy Ball Of Muscle to take up the running and needed little more than a flick of the reins to stroll home a one and three-quarter winner over Crystal Dreamer (Stratum) with Palazzo Pubblico (Conatus) a half-head back in third. (photos Grant Courtney).
It snapped a 17-run losing streak for the son of Dubawi dating back to the QTC Cup in May 2015.
The 7yo gelding advances his record to 9 wins, 8 seconds and 6 thirds from 31 starts with earnings of $900,325.
"He showed a good sprint today. That's his go, jump and roll," Schofield said.
"He is well named, he's real quick. He just wanted to run to the outside fence and keep the rail on his right side like he is used too.
"It wasn't the plan beforehand to go all the way out but I was happy to go there when he was travelling son comfortably.
For trainer Joe Pride it was some consolation for the defeat of Ball Of Muscle's half-brother Terravista in the same race last year.
"He may have looked a little bit lost coming up the straight by himself, angling across to where the other field was.
"I'd like to think we've got another couple of seasons with this bloke
"There's a chance he will go (to Perth for the Winterbottom), we'll get him home and asses him.
"If he doesn't go I'd like to bring him back for the Lightning here. I really wanted to see how he'd go down the straight in this sought of race."
"He's a horse who is going to win plenty more races, we've just got to keep him sound and ticking over."
A brother to Group 1 Galaxy Stakes winner Tiger Tees and a half-brother to Group 1 Darley Classic winner Terravista, Singapore Horse Of The Year Super Easy and multiple Listed stakes-winner Our Lukas, Ball Of Muscle is
Purchased
The daughter of Gold Brose died aged 18 at Segenhoe Stud in 2016.
