Both Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar 779m heats resulted in strong pace-making victories.
Pic: The strong Australian stayer Ring The Bell
First up we saw the Queen of the Kiwi stayers Shandell strongly railing underneath the initial pacemaker Tron Bradman when racing into the first turn. From there the 2015 Silver Collar winner produced a freewheeling gallop to cruise into her third Silver Collar final when stylishly taking out her heat by four lengths in 46.52s for her conditioner Arch Lawrence.
Bradam Begins made a complete hash of the race start when flopping out of the traps, therefore it was a stylish effort by him to weave his way past the other six heat contenders to nail his second placing for his trainer Angela Turnwald. He held a 2.5 length margin over the exceptionally brave maiden chaser Cawbourne Kai from the Matt Roberts kennels who held down the third placing.
The Gary Cleeve prepared Know Jinx was also gallant to claim her qualifying place. She was jostled early, then held wide and she was hindered at a crucial stage, therefore finishing just three-quarters of a length further behind in fourth was a gutsy effort. Sighted finishing stoutly into fifth was the Pippa Lammas and Carol Morris trained Phantom Way, who will be the first reserve for Sunday’s decider.
It was the black racing vest worn by the current Australian National Distance title holder Ring The Bell that speared straight into the race lead in the second heat. The further they went the further the Gerry O’Keeffe prepared stayer extended his race lead. At the judge, he had built a comfortable 12.5 length margin over his rivals, when returning 46.31s.
Without taking anything away from the winner whatsoever there was a fair amount of jostling on the final turn which severely impacted on a number of runners. Slipping around the outer, avoiding the incident was the promising Lawrence trained young stayer Augello. He pressed on solidly to claim second.
The race and pre-series favourite Tranquil Blossom was mounting her known powerful finish when she was stopped dead on her paws. It was a gutsy effort by her to pick herself up to regain her momentum to arrive home a further 4.75 lengths behind for Turnwald.
Capitalising on the opportunity presented to her in the incident was the TAB Futures 201-1 finals prospect Electric Lotto for her conditioners Peter Ferguson and Greg Hore. She booked her return for Sunday’s big dance by claiming fourth being another 2.25 lengths back. The big loser in the melee was the defending Lawrence prepared Silver Collar title holder Teemaria, who after looking to easily qualify, she had to re-gather her impetus which saw her winding up in fifth. That means she will occupy the second possie on the Silver Collar reserves bench.
It is now all set for yet another compelling edition of the great race this Sunday afternoon.
Australian stayer Ring The Bell with his trainer Gerry O’Keeffe and race day handler Mark Smith; Arch and Gloria Lawrence with their staying pride and joy Shandell; Plasterboard principal Roy Thomson assisted with the box draw for Sunday’s Plasterboard Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar final
