The quickest of the three 520m heat times for the $15,000 final at Group 2 level was posted by the Ray Adcock trained Tom Tee.

He had settled just behind the early pace from where he pushed forward to claim the pace making Cosmic Odette. From there he slipped clear, building a four-length margin over his rivals when clocking 30.30s.

Last year’s South Island Champs winner Opawa Shackley winner book her return to defend her title when she dug in deeply to claim second for her conditioners Dave and Jean Fahey. It was a gutsy effort by her as she had the early race lead wrestled away from her by Cosmic Odette, then obviously she was passed by Tom Tee.

The Craig Roberts kennels will be represented by four finalists next Friday. Included will be Helski Bale who by finishing just a half-length further behind, returned a time that ensured he made the final cut off. Cosmic Odette was brave when holding onto fourth and that effort earned the NZ Oaks title holder the second reverse spot for John McInerney.

Speaking about the Roberts kennels, it was in the first heat where he produced the race quinella. It was his strong recent NZ Futurity winner Ride Ain’t Over who maintained a strong relentless gallop throughout that carried him to his 30.33s heat victory. Sunday’s Ashburton Cup runner-up Allen Hadrian pressed on stoutly to finish in the same placing 3.25 lengths behind his kennelmate.

Southern Lights had endured a luckless racing passage when he contested the Ashburton Cup on Sunday. It wasn’t that much better for the Roy Hamilton trained chaser during the early rush for positions in this heat. He picked himself up and was sighted doing his best work at the business end which carried him into third another 1.5 lengths behind. He will now occupy the first possie on Friday’s reserve bench.

There was an air of anticipation surrounding the second heat with the return to racing by the Dave and Jean Fahey mentored NZ Cup title holder American Warrior after he was comprehensively carved up and fell in his last Group 2 North Island Challenge Stakes 457m assignment.

He came away nicely from the three trap, however, he then found himself jammed in between a couple of runners when approaching the first turn. Undeterred he displayed track sense when getting himself out of the jam, switching to the outside of those runners to find himself in clear racing air. That was all he needed as he then proceeded to put in his known big looping strides which saw him greeting judge Peter Rosanowski holding a 1.5 length winning margin after 30.46s of chasing.

Howie Bale held the rail when heading into the first turn for Roberts. He led around that turn and down the back straight from where he yielded the race lead to American Warrior. He gamely stuck to his task and in doing so fended off the late challenge that Pair Pippa lodged when she ran on stoutly to wind up three-quarters behind him. That means her trainers, the Fahey’s will return with three finalists.
 

Barron’s Supplies South Island Champs heat winners (from left): Ride Ain’t Over, pictured with members of the owning Wanhalla family, with Steven undertaking the handling duties; Katie Wyllie attended to American Warrior, while Jordan Bryce did likewise for Tom Tee - pics supplied by Dave Robbie - drobbie@ihug.co.nz – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
 

By Peter Fenemor