Incapacitated Fires In Christmas Gift Shootout

INCAPACITED has landed the inaugural running of the Group 3 Christmas Gift Shootout (520m) in dashing style at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.

The hugely talented son of Sh Avatar made light work of his match race with Masters Meteor winner Sunburnt Highway and in recording a smashing 29.66 parceled up the $15,000 first prize for trainer Justin King and owner Tess Simmons.

Capable of posting blinding times, Saturday night's Shootout format, the first time the series has been conducted under match race conditions, always looked well suited to Incapacitated.

And it was that suitability to the format which made the $18 on offer about the 13-time winner claiming overall time honours all the more astounding.

On a fantastic night of racing in front of a big crowd, the first clash saw Fire Legend prove too strong for Drink Moet in 29.87 while the second match race showcased Incapacitated running rampant in a sizzling 29.66.

The third match-up saw Victorian star Catch The Thief stave off a late challenge by Ritza Coen in 29.71, while the fourth and final match race resulted in another leader winning with Ebby Jet Power scoring over Poacher in 29.79.

The 29.66 recorded by Incapacitated was enough to see him claim first by three-quarters-of-a-length over the Matt Clark-trained Catch The Thief on the clock.

Ritza Coen, second to Catch The Thief in his match-up, finished third for Mark Gatt.

Meanwhile, the feature staying event of the program, the Group 3 Christmas Cheer (720m), was taken out by Here's Tears in a flying 42.36.

The Rob Britton-trained son of Fernando Bale was stepping out in the Christmas staying feature fresh off his last start Newcastle Cup victory at Ladbrokes Gardens.

Back in October on TAB Million Dollar Chase night, Here's Tears annexed the $100,000-to-the-winner Sydney Cup at Wentworth Park in 42.33, a fraction faster than his winning time on Saturday night.

And while the winner deserves all the plaudits, the performance of runner-up Zipping Truvy was sensational, finishing 1 1/2 lengths away from Here's Tears at the finish.

Stanley Road wound up third another three-quarters away providing Mark Gatt with third placing in both features of the night.