Exhilarating on the pace chasing action highlighted last Friday’s 520m $45,420 Spion Rose Cup heats at the Hatrick Raceway with all four heats being decided in swift times.
Pictured: The NZ Cup winner Nature’s Gent is seeking back-to-back Group 1 titles
Leading the way was the recent Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup winner Nature’s Gent for Foxton trainer Angela Turnwald. He completed his heat assignment in a slippery 29.68s. That form says that back-to-back Group 1 titles is his for the taking as Turnwald, along with her partner Paul Freeman, seek to deliver repeat Spion Rose Cup victories after mentoring Top Prosecutor to win last year’s edition.
Canterbury trainer Craig Roberts trained Letron James to finish an eight length second to Nature’s Gent. Roberts had earlier produced Allen Ablett who scampered through his heat in a tidy 29.82s. This member of an exciting litter took control of his heat going into the back straight and he was never seriously challenged afterwards when scoring by 2.75 lengths over the strong finishing Karen Walsh prepared Thrilling Raider.
Roberts was back in action in the third heat with Allen Ablett’s litter brother Dirk Bale who delivered a bold pace making 29.99s heat win. His early pace was the deciding factor when landing his 1.5 length heat win. Catching the eye with his strong finish that carried him into second was American Warrior for Dave and Jean Fahey.
It was a Lisa Cole prepared final heat quinella which saw Me Jane prevailing in 30s even after she also led all the way. Bigtime Paddy wasted no time in getting back into Group race action following his recent creditable Melbourne Cup heat fourth placing. He pressed on stoutly for his four length second behind his kennelmate.
Walsh is on target to also replicate her training success from last year in the Group 2 $15,825 Dash For Cash sprint over 305m. She trained My Girl Chloe to win last year’s title and she will be represented by the 17.46s heat winner One Cold Foot in next Friday’s decider. Her time was the quickest of the six sprint heats contested.
Turnwald will also be represented by a finalist with Mila Mila after she led throughout for her 17.59s heat win. Cole is the third trainer who will have runners in both Group race finals after she trained Bigtime Stu to his 17.72s heat win.
Birdie Tee will return from the Ray Adcock Canterbury based kennels after she stylishly took out her heat in 17.50s. Hayley Mullane is returning with her recent Galaxy Sprint runner up Highland Laddie after he prevailed in his heat in 17.55s. Marie Gowen will be excited in lining up a Group race finalist after she trained Butterball to her 17.65s heat success.
Dirk Bale will contest the Spion Rose Cup final, while One Cold Foot and Birdie Tee will line up in the Dash For Cash decider
By Peter Fenemor
