A hot pace is guaranteed as soon as the Addington 295m traps lift for Thursday’s Murray Wigley @ Ray White Harding Cup final. Four quickly contested heats held last week has brought together a rather sharp looking field.
Pic: Here’s another look at the Harding Cup heat won by Technic (red) by a nose over Swimming Goat (pic Dave Robbie)
Local conditioners Tony Hart and Kristy Taylor mentored two of those heat winners which included Speedy Return ($11 –TAB Final Field, option 911) who slipped through his assignment in a slippery 17.18s. There is no doubting this guy’s sheer power when he picks the jump, like he did when leaving the five trap last Thursday. He must replicate that start in this final as he has drawn the same trap.
Kennelmate Technic ($21) prevailed in a grandstand finish when he snatched his heat win by the barest possible margin. He had chased after the pace making Swimming Goat and it was in the very final bound when he got up to nail his 17.37s heat win. He was wearing the red racing vest then – on this occasion he will be sighted in the green vest.
Calum Weir is also represented by two finalists which obviously includes the Addington 295m track record holder Swimming Goat ($1.70). He was resuming from a spell when he contested his heat when he only conceded in the very final bound. Natural improvement following that fresh up effort will see him stripping as a fitter dog this Thursday. He will be loaded away into the four trap for the final.
Weir has another talented sprinter in his kennel as seen by the two stylish 295m wins that Seriously Grand ($6) has produced since he crossed the Tasman. His Harding Cup heat win came in 17.40s when he dictated the pace throughout after hopping away from trap eight. He will be loaded away into the same trap for the final.
Rosa Tee ($4.20) made no mistake at the jump in her heat when she placed herself handy to the early pace. She then used her strength to run down the heat pacemaker to record her 17.35s heat victory for her conditioner Ray Adcock. She will celebrate her twenty first race day appearance by making her first outing wearing the red racing vest. Her trap two stats, makes for tidy reading, having won all three of her races from that trap.
It was Cawbourne Dotty ($11) who Rosa Tee ran down. The Craig Roberts prepared sprinter seized the early race and she was bold in the manner that she led her rivals into the home straight before succumbing to Rosa Tee by a three quarter length margin. Her early pace is a decided asset which she must display when hopping away from the three trap here.
Sarcasm ($21) is a Gary Cleeve prepared sprinter who isn’t renowned for his quick starting habits, however he is known for the strong finish that he owns. He showed that when he was sighted steaming home late from out of the midfield pack when finishing 2.5 lengths behind Speedy Return. What is likely to help him on Thursday is his trap two draw from where he likely to be crossed by the early pace drawn around him. If that happens, then he should benefit from a sweet racing along the rail from here he can have the last crack at his rivals at the business end here.
The vastly experienced chaser Homebush Kelso ($26) completes the drawn field for John McInerney. This bloke is as game as they come as seen by him contesting his 208th career race in this final. He hopped away from the one trap to chase home Seriously Grand for his length second. Drawing out in trap seven says he must quickly punch forward during the early rush. He is backing up from his Ascot Park C4/5 390m Tuesday sprint where he chased home his potent kennelmate Wheelchair Norm for his fourth.
The first reserve is provided from the Malcolm Grant kennels with Serious Torque ($10). He was involved in the last heat torrid finish when winding up a nose and a head behind Technic. Seeking Baxter ($26) for McInerney occupies the second possie on the bench after she delivered her 4.25 length third to Speedy Return. She went on to finish in the midfield in the Southland 390m sprint won by Wheelchair Norm on Tuesday.
Murray Wigley @ Ray White Harding Cup heat winners from left: Speedy Return with Tony Hart and handler Dyan Voyce; Seriously Grand with trainer Calum Weir; Rosa Tee and handler Jordan Bryce; Technic and trainers Tony Hart and Kristy Taylor
By Peter Fenemor
