Strong on the pace 520m heat efforts were rewarded with final field positions for Friday’s $26,500 Wanganui Cup. Prior to those trio of Group 1 heats the two Wanganui Stayers 755m heats saw contrasting wins being delivered in the Group 2 event.

Pictured: Ring The Bell, who ruthlessly tore apart his Wanganui Stayers heat rivals

Setting the tone for the Wanganui Cup heats was Spring Allegro who scampered clear from trap seven to deliver her pace making 30.10s heat win for Lisa Cole. That effort held up to be the quickest time clocked in the heats.

It was a massive effort by the Craig Roberts trained Ride Ain’t Over who, after settling in the rear group, rattled home late to nail his half length second. The winner’s kennel mate Big Time Paddy has chased the pace setter and he gained a final field position when finishing third, another length behind. Thrilling Flo will be the second reserve after she returned the fastest fourth placing for Karen Walsh.

It was a carbon copy pace making win in the second heat which saw Spring Allegro’s litter brother Allegro Gun prevailing in 30.14s also for Cole. Letron James provides Roberts with a second finalist after he gamely stuck to his task when finishing a 5.25 length second. Claiming a field position for next Friday was the Dave and Jean Fahey prepared He’s All Power, who pressed on stoutly for his third - another length behind.

Cawbourne Mezza went into her heat after recent 305m and 375m sprints, which her conditioner Matt Roberts had set her. She held the rail going around the first turn and when the pacemaker went amiss she took control which set her up for her 30.42s heat win by a 1.25 length margin.

Cole will have half of the drawn field after Spare Some Time maintained his solid gallop to secure second and he held a two length advantage over the third placed Tranquil Rue which means the Angela Turnwald trained chaser will occupy the first position on the reserves bench.

  
The three Wanganui Cup winners (from left): Spring Allegro; Allegro Gun; Cawbourne Mezza

Wanganui Stayers Heats

The powerful stayer Ring The Bell treated his six staying rivals with utter contempt when the Ray Adcock prepared stayer turned his Wanganui Stayers’ heat into a procession. His 21.5 length mauling of his opponents confirms that. It was only a training gallop for this dual Group 1 winning stayer when he delivered his effortless 44.81s 755m heat victory.

Leading home the ‘second division’ was the Marcie Flipp trained Pacific Sunrise who pressed on stoutly for her second placing. She held a 1.5 length margin over the third placed Cawbourne Kai from the Matt Roberts kennels, who cut out the brave Alzheimer’s from that position by half a length. The Peter Fergusson trained stayer had bravely led the vain chaser after the freewheeling pacemaker. Securing a position on the reserves bench was the Arch Lawrence conditioned Augello who whacked away for his fifth placing.

The first Wanganui Stayers heat was a much more competitive affair which saw the promising up-and-coming Bill Hodgson prepared stayer Nitehawk Rose finishing stylishly from an earlier midfield position to nail her 44.93s win.

Phantom Way was rewarded with a final field possie when she kicked on soundly to claim second just a length behind for Carol Morris. Warm race favourite Tranquil Blossom wasn’t able to clear early traffic for Angela Turnwald. She will be returning to contest another 755m Group 1 final after she arrived home a further 2.75 lengths astern.

Another 1.25 lengths behind her was a pair of Roberts trained stayers who vied for the remaining final field position available from this heat. It was a gallant Cawbourne Trixy who edged out her litter sister Cawbourne Buckle, who had undertaken the early pace making duties, to book her return for next Friday’s $15,000 decider.

  
Wanganui Stayers finalists includes (from left): Ring The Bell; Tranquil Blossom; Phantom Way

By Peter Fenemor