Boldhino justified his microscopic odds of $1.40 and collected his fourth successive win with a superb victory in the TAB Handicap, feature event at Fannie Bay on Saturday.

The 6yo son of Brazen Beau, trained by Gary Clarke, had only 4 rivals – three of them stablemates – but the way in which he wore down Field of Flutes carrying 63.5kg, brought back memories of two-time Horse of the Year The Captain (2019, 2020), who was something of a weight-carrying marvel just a handful or so years ago.

The Captain, also from the Clarke racing team, won 17 races at Fannie Bay among his 24 career successes, and frequently carried big weights to victory, including twice lumping 65.5kg to wins during a four-race winning streak in late 2020/early 2021.

Boldhino, a bay whereas The Captain was a chestnut, is not a big horse but he is extremely solidly built and the way he carries weight is a testament to his constitution.

After trailing Field Of Flutes, and Flying Annie early, Jarrod Todd began to ask his mount to get serious rounding the home turn, where Field Of Flutes kicked three lengths clear.

For a fleeting moment at the 150m, it appeared that the leader may have the favourites measure, but Boldhino knuckled down and collared his rival, carrying 4kg less, inside the final 50m and went on to score by a length, with over 6 lengths back to Flying Annie in third.

Stable foreman Sharlene Clarke was unsure what the near future held for Boldhino. ” He’s just going so well, we’ll have a look at the program and then make a decision if we keep going or give him a break,” she said.

Vieri upset some better performed gallopers when wearing down Kangaroo Court to score narrowly but well in the Ladbrokes Mega Multi Handicap (1600m).

The two-race winning son of Russian Revolution and good mare Our Libretto was, on paper, up against it with Awash, Hennessy Lad, Kangaroo Court and Shakattak his rivals.

But aided by a well-judged Sonja Logan ride, Vieri trailed pacemaker Kangaroo Court and Awash and when asked to improve approaching the home turn, he was clearly going better than the latter and favourite as he set out after the leader.

It may have taken him the length of the straight, but Vieri aways appeared to have Kangaroo Court’s measure and collared him late to win by a short neck. Awash, who had every chance, was three and-a half lengths away third.

Trainer Chris Nash, who has now sent out five winners from just 14 runners this season, indicated that Vieri could well run next on Melbourne Cup Day in a 0-64 1600m.

And judged on his latest success, his third in his past four starts, he should again prove hard to beat as he will effectively be dropping back a full grade.

Hotim English, after blowing the start and giving away as much as eight or nine lengths start at the 600m, still managed to get in the deciding stride to score an impressive win in the Sportsbet Handicap (1200m).

Trained by Ella Clarke and giving Todd his second winner of the day, Hotim English was awkward to begin and was then chasing stablemates Kissing Supido and Starspangleddancer from the outset.

The son of Star Turn began to make ground approaching the home turn but still had plenty of work to do to run down the leaders.

Angled sharply to the outside on the point of the home turn, Hotim English, although inclined to lay in down the straight, wound up impressively and collared Frawley late to win by a short neck, with Kissing Supido third three and a-half lengths back.

A $10,000 purchase from the 2024 Magic Millions Tried Horse Sale held in Alice Springs, Hotim English has since won four times from 12 starts.

Story Courtesy Andrew O’Toole