Comet nips rivals in Bud

EXPRESS Comet edged out market rival Large Mac in a thrilling final of the Tinys Bud Open 550 at Curraheen Park on Saturday.

Jaxerback and Comical Mix were both absent, leaving a four runner field but what the race lacked in numbers it more than made up for in excitement.

Consolation Laurels winner Express Comet, trained by Owen McKenna, was light in the market at evens as punters got stuck into 6/4 chance Large Mac.

Express Comet’s kennel mate Blackstone Champ cut out the early running followed by the jolly and Large Mac.

The leading pair made slight contact between the opening two bends which allowed Blackstone Champ take a definite advantage down the back.

Express Comet, having moved upsides the pacemaker at halfway, had edged ahead by the third bend by which time Large Mac, who had been in the slipstream of the other two throughout, was on the move.

He loomed up on the outside of Express Comet before the fourth bend and the pair then had a battle royal all the way up the straight with Express Comet having his head in front where it mattered to record a minimum margin success in 30.33.