FLYING AIRPORT LANDS FAIR WARRIOR

Ian Fortune

Airport Flying may have been a double figure price ahead of Sunday’s Matchbook Fair Warrior Open 400 decider but there was nothing lucky about the victory of the young son of Droopys Buick and Dream Believer as he ran on well after crowding on the bend to collar Mustang Joey in a tight finish.

Gizmo Cash was understandably a hot favourite after a paw-perfect passage through the prelims but the presence of the wide running Breaghmore Rob in trap three, on his immediate inside, was to prove very costly. 

With Breaghmore Rob moving wide all the way to the bend, Gizmo Cash got no sort of run and was never in a position to display his class. Instead, Mustang Joey, who was afforded room in the early yards from trap two led the field into the bend.

Importantly, Airport Fying slipped around in second, despite being left tight of room on the corner. As he did seven days earlier, Mustang Joey looked a very likely winner only to surrender ground in the final yards.

Airport Flying, in contrast, really started to build up a head of steam to the finish. Trained by Oliver and Finbar Cribben and trained by David Murray, Airport Flying joined Mustang Joey on the line to force the judge into action.

The judge declared that Airport Flying had won by a head from Mustang Joey in 21.54, while Thirtynine Winks also ran on strongly to hand David Murray a first and third placed finish.