BATHURST trainer Peter Bullock has ended an eight year wait for a Group 1 appearance after Enk Spot Shannon scored an upset victor in Wednesday night's TAB Regional Championships Western Heat (2,260 metres) at his home track.
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Enk Spot Shannon ($17, Travis Bullock) did just enough to hold off a late challenge from Castalong Shadow ($12, Justin Reynolds) while The Weekend ($31, Josh Gallagher) rounded out an unlikely trifecta.
At the bell Enk Spot Shannon sat in the death seat and was ready to launch an attack on leader Bettor Jiggle on the turn for home.
Castalong Shadow tagged along Enk Spot Shannon's back to offer up a challenge but Bettor Jiggle faded badly out of the hunt over the last 100m.
Enk Spot Shannon ran home with plenty of gusto, having put in plenty of work over a 27.8 third quarter, to win in a 1:59.2 mile rate.
Bullock was full of praise for his son's drive on the Million Dollar Cam gelding on the outside line.
"We were confident last week that we'd go well but nothing worked out for us. We ended up four back on the fence, so we said we needed to give him every chance this week
"Obviously I can't be much happier with how it went this time. Travis drove perfectly to get him up there. He's a tough little horse and he can do a bit of work to get from the second line outside the leader so easily.
"The plan worked out tonight, and they don't always do that."
Enk Spot Shannon was never aimed at this race over the long-term but the decision to enter him has turned into a brilliant opportunity for the Bullock stable.
"We have a look at whatever's in the stable when this race comes around and he turned out to be the only one that we had," Bullock said.
"I don't feel there's a point looking too far ahead. If you can win races with horses you try to win them because you never know if you'll have them at that level in three months' time.
"I think he's a chance in the final based on the strength of that win.
"Credit to Travis because he worked him on Sunday and said 'Dad, he'll win on Wednesday'. I took his word for it and away he went."
Former Gold Crown winner Castalong Shadow will also have the opportunity to win another Group 1 after he made the final field for the $100,000 decider next Wednesday.
Wednesday night's other heats were taken out Crazy Shippo and Kash Us Back for Bernie and Gemma Hewitt respectively.
The pair already had two runners progress from last week's heats - Keayang Kreuzer and Rock Fisherman.