Striking rich vein of form

WITH his team striking a rich vein of form, veteran trainer Ken Tippet is hoping for just one thing.

Racing in sensational fashion, the 'Tippet troop' boasts three last start winners, including Bart Bentley in Bendigo last night.

Tippet also prepared a double in Melton five days earlier thanks to El Boston and Ima Charma.

As for Tippet hoping for just one thing, it's pretty obvious - for the purple patch to continue!

"We're having a good stint at the moment," Tippet said. "Hopefully it can keep going a while longer.

"It can be like that with horses sometimes. They get in that sweet spot on the training track, while racing in the right class and things can go their way.

"Then there are other times you've done nothing different with them and they're not going as well.

"At the moment they're in the right place and class and we're getting a few winners."

Leading throughout from barrier two, Bart Bentley rated 1:55.2 over 1650 metres to account for Tooram Cee Cee and Mac Cheddar.

"He put the writing on the wall with his previous start when he was only beaten a head, so I was reasonably confident with him," Tippet said.

"After winning two of his first three starts and three of his first seven, he became a victim of the National Rating System in that he got up in class too fast and wasn't ready.

"He's where he should be now rating-wise and it makes a difference."