It was all about on the pace sprinting during the five Addington hosted NZRS Sprint 295m heats on Thursday evening. It was a case of first out and first home in all five heats.

Pic: Rosa Tee delivering her NZRS Sprint heat win (pic Dave Robbie)

The trend for those heats was set by Rosa Tee who dictated the pace throughout for her conditioner Ray Adcock. She cut out her task in 17.18s, which turned out to be the quickest heat time. Chasing her home 6.75 lengths astern was the Bruce Dann prepared Miss Fanning.

Heat two saw the first of the John McInerney trained trio of heat winners prevailing. Nippaofsamucca pinged away from trap five to deliver her 17.40s heat win. It was Backchat Harry who led the chase home after her when he wound up a length behind for Ashley Bradshaw.

It was team McInerney again in the third heat when Speedy Blueblood maintained his current run of solid form when he controlled the pace after also leaping away from the five trap. He stopped the clock in 17.42s. Technic slipped around the outer for his trainers Tony Hart and Kristy Taylor to claim his second a further 1.75 lengths behind.

Botany Cold completely turned his form line around when he scampered through his 295m dash in 17.47s to take out the fourth heat for McInerney. It was the Lisa Waretini trained Ohoka Billy who closed to within a half-length margin of the pacemaker to nail his second placing.

Bradshaw produced Sopoaga to deliver his pace-making win in the last of the heats, clocking 17.39s. McInerney ensured he will have half of the drawn field for next Thursday’s $8,000 final when the evergreen sprinter Puma Pants finished stoutly to nail his second, 1.5 lengths further behind.
 

NZRS Sprint heat winners (from top left): Rosa Tee with Jordan Bryce, Nippaofsamucca and Johnathon McInerney, Speedy Blueblood with Mick Kennedy, Botany Cold again with Kennedy; Sopoaga and Peter Seque - pics supplied by Dave Robbie - drobbie@ihug.co.nz – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
 

By Peter Fenemor