THE Norm Loy trained Ilovesaki has stormed into Country Championship qualifier calculations after an emphatic victory in the prelude at Albury yesterday.
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Ridden by son and in-form hoop Brodie, Ilovesaki demolished his rivals to score by almost five lengths in the $22,000 preview over the Championship qualifier distance of 1400m.
The in-form galloper made it back-to-back wins after he also scored an equally dominant victory at Wangaratta last month.
Loy is now eagerly anticipating the SDRA Country Championship qualifier at Albury on February 22 with his in-form four-year-old.
"You don't see horses win like that very often," Loy said.
"He really put a gap on them when Brodie released the brakes at the 300m mark.
"My only real query before the race if he prefers racing in Victoria and going anti-clockwise.
"But he certainly showed he can race in either direction today."
In an open race, Ilovesaki was well backed late in betting to start the $5.50 second elect.
Ilovesaki settled second in the run after drawing favourably in barrier four.
Loy (Brodie) pounced on the lead turning for home which proved to be a winning move as Ilovesaki made it a one-act affair.
The Pat Widdup-trained Cathanda finished second ahead of Team Hayes' Rugged Roy.
Loy revealed the addition of blinkers had mad a huge difference in the performance of Ilovesaki in his past two starts.
"I whacked the blinkers on and it has seemed to make a world of difference," he said.
Loy has had three previous attempts at the SDRA Country Championship qualifier and is yet to run a place.
He labelled Ilovesaki as his best hope yet.
"After what he done today (Tuesday) you can't help but be excited," he said.
"Donna Scott's horse (Bennelong Dancer) is the one we all have to beat.
"But the way my horse beat the rest of them today, they were no slouches and it was a more than handy field."
Loy and Brodie made it a winning double after Falling Waters scored earlier in the day in the $22,000 Benchmark 58 Hcp, (1175m).
It was the first time the pair have combined to land a double.
Meanwhile Border trainers dominated yesterday's meeting.
Wodonga trainer John Rooney started the ball rolling when Equally Wild ($8) made it back-to-back wins in the $22,000 Class 2 Hcp, (1000m).
Ridden by Damon Budler, the claiming apprentice was dislodged shortly after the winning post.
Budler was transported to Albury Base Hospital with a suspected leg injury.
Donna Scott also joined the party after Helcolore saluted.
