Joe Pride's veteran speedball Ball Of Muscle took up his favoured front-running roll under Craig Williams in Saturday's Group II Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield and defied all to run him down - nothing could and the son of Dubawi (IRE) earned a sixth stakes win.
The Ballydoyle import Spirit Of Valor (USA) (War Front) finished fast to get within three-quarters of a length with Missrock (Fastnet Rock) two lengths back in third. (photo Grant Courtney)
Winner of the Group II The Shorts at Randwick two starts back, Ball Of Muscle disappointed when failing to beat a runner home in the Group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley won by Viddora.
The 8yo gelding advances his overall record to 12 wins, 8 seconds and 6 thirds from 37 starts with earnings of $1,365,425.
"I was nervous today because he was coming off a failure last start and it's always tough back your judgment and make another interstate trip two weeks later, but it felt everything was right with him at home," Pride said.
"He's in career best form and I think what happened the other night at Moonee Valley was that he was pulled back to the inside, which is something very foreign to him, I don't think he was happy there at all.
"The three brothers that I have trained (Terravista, Ball Of Muscle and Tiger Tees) have all been super to the stable and have been the backbone of the stable for six or seven years now."
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 the eighth foal of celebrated broodmare Parfore.
Purchased by Mike and Christine Ryan for $30,000 at a New Zealand broodmare sale, Parfore was honoured as the 2014-15 NZ Broodmare of the Year.
The daughter of Gold Brose died aged 18 at Segenhoe Stud in 2016.
