Youngster’s 18-hour double

WINNING consecutive starts is nothing unusual, in fact it’s a feat repeated throughout Australia almost on a daily basis.

Becoming the latest pacer to register successive victories with his performance in Bankstown yesterday, Foxy Dada’s double, however, is somewhat unique.

The difference is Foxy Dada was also triumphant in Penrith just 18 hours earlier!

Trained by astute horseman Brian Portelli, Foxy Dada rated 2:01.9 over 2125 metres for his first win as he scored by 10 metres.

During his ‘back up’ performance, the son of Shoobees Place led throughout to beat Flying Banyula by four-and-a-half metres.

Silly Sid was 19 metres away third in 1:57.4 over 1740 metres.

Naturally impressed with the three-year-old’s durability Portelli admits he was ready to scratch Foxy Dada from Bankstown.

“I was going to scratch him in the morning but was told I’d get a penalty, so I put him around,” Portelli said. “As it turned out they did me a favour by me racing him again as he’s come away with another win.

“He has gotten better with each start this time in and has hit his peak.”

Planning to give the gelding “a few days off”, Portelli will then prime Foxy Dada for the New South Wales Breeders’ Challenge Blue Final.

“I’d say he’s earned a few days off now,” Portelli said. “I think he will be well suited to the Blue later in the year, which is where I will head with him.”