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By Brad Gray

Super Star Bob ridden by Bobby El-issa. It was too good to be true for the Matt Dale-trained three-year-old after he took out the TAB Highway Handicap.

The son of Mossman had previously won a Canberra maiden and at just his second start, Dale tested him in a Highway such was his belief in the horse. Stablemate Clipper looked the likely winner, kicking clear half way down the straight but was collared to finish third.

Super Star Bob is living up to his name

“We’ve always had a good opinion of the horse but I was saying all week that he was one run away. The way he paraded in the yard though suggested he was more ready than I thought,” Dale said.

“My other filly, I thought she was home but she just hit the front too early here at Randwick. To hit the front at the top of the rise, it’s a long way home. She got run down by a very good horse. I said to a few people (before the race) that I think in 12 months’ time (Super Star Bob) will be the best horse to come out of the race.

“We didn’t put Bobby on because the horse is called Super Star Bob – that happened by default!”

As for what’s next for Super Star Bob, the astute trainer, who collected his sixth Highway Handicap, is already formulating a plan.

“It just depends on whether I think he wants further. I might head him towards a Canberra Guineas.” El-issa took plenty of confidence into the race knowing how his galloper’s ability stacked up against Clipper.

“He’s a nice horse this bloke. I rode him at Canberra and Matty’s got big plans for this horse. I knew he’d be a contender seeing as though the stablemate was (second) favourite and I thought this horse had three or four lengths up his sleeve on that horse. He is a nice horse going somewhere,” El-issa said.

“He looks good and is a strong big horse but is still very immature in the mind. He lost two lengths at the 100m looking at the post.”

All the results and replays from Randwick