Pic: Allegro Gun who clocked the fastest NZ Breeders’ Stake heat time

It promises to be an extremely even looking Group 1 final as all three heats saw similar times being delivered.

It was the recent Group 2 North Island Challenge Stakes winning Allegro Gun who set the time standard from the first heat when he controlled the pace throughout to claim his heat win in 30.11s for Cole. He led home his kennelmate Bigtime Flyer by a three-length margin.

The Fahey prepared Albie Punter stuck gamely to her task for her third placing just a further half-length behind. Unofficially the second reserve for the final came out this heat with Watch My Back returning the fourth quickest heat time by arriving home another length astern for Brian Goldsack.

The second heat saw the Walsh trained Thrilling Surge angled himself down onto the rail when heading into the first turn. That tactic proved to be the winning formula as he controlled the pace throughout afterwards to land his heat win 30.15s. Opawa Brad had slipped into his slipstream which saw him claim his second placing 1.25 lengths further back for the Fahey’s, while the Cole trained Bigtime Welldone dug in deep for his third placing when winding up another 3.75 lengths behind.

Onto the final heat which saw the recent Group 1 NZ Futurity winner Spare Some Time prevailing also in 30.15s for Cole when he delivered his pace-making win by a 2.25 length margin. It was the Walsh prepared Thrilling Flo who pressed on stoutly for her runner-up finish, holding a two-length advantage over the third placed Opawa Racer for the Fahey’s.
 

NZ Breeders’ Stakes finalists (from left): Albie Punter; Thrilling Surge; Spare Some Time
 

By Peter Fenemor