Saturday, 17 December 2011:
Dual Chamber finally turned the corner in her frustrating career when the Toowoomba mare claimed the Listed Just Now Quality at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Dual Chamber ($4.60) had too much firepower at the finish for the favourite Skating On Ice ($1.90) to win the 1300-metre feature by 1-3/4 lengths.
Just Destiny ($19) filled the minor placing a further length away.
Trainer Rex Lipp has endured several frustrating years trying to teach Dual Chamber to behave on race day but nothing had worked until she came back into work this campaign.
"She's been very temperamental and a real headache before now but we've finally got her cured," Lipp said.
"She's bigger and stronger now and more mature but a lot of it has been in her head."
Dual Chamber's win was only her fourth in 27 starts and broke a 16-start losing streak since her last win in the Listed Bright Shadow Handicap (1200m) at Doomben in April last year.
Winning jockey Eddie Wilkinson had Dual Chamber travelling in a more forward position than normal while Skating On Ice was trapped three wide.
"She's pretty hard to deal with but she got the right run through the race today," Wilkinson said.
"She really quickened up nicely when I called on her for an effort."
Lipp was unsure of Dual Chamber's immediate future but indicated the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1615m) at Doomben on December 31 would be her next goal.
"I'm really not sure what to do with her now but I'd say the Bernborough will be her next goal," he said.
Runner-up Skating On Ice lost none of her admirers despite her defeat.
"It was a good run and it was only the barrier which cost her victory," jockey Glen Colless said.
Trainer Les Kelly will give Skating On Ice, who wore blinkers for the first time, her next start in the Listed Goldmarket Handicap (1300m) at the Gold Coast on January 2.
Earlier, Toowoomba sprinter Carry Me Bluey ($1.80 fav) booked a Bernborough Handicap start with a neck win over Hidden Kisses ($8) in the Origin Kebabs Handicap (1600m).
Chris Munce came under fire following his ride on Carry Me Bluey when the gelding was beaten narrowly by Wonderful Lass at his previous start in the Listed Recognition Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
However Munce answered his critics in the best possible manner, angling the four-year-old through a narrow gap between runners in the straight.
"I had a couple of anxious moments but that was a real Chris Munce ride," trainer Norm Hilton said.
"He needed a bit of luck after he got well back but the acceleration was there."
