The stayers are circulating over the extreme 755m distance around the Hatrick venue again where two heats will sort out the finalists for next Friday’s $27,465 Wanganui Distance at Group 1 level.

Pictured: Tranquil Blossom after winning last year’s edition of the Wanganui Distance

We saw the Kiwi bred stayers warm up for their 755m assignment last Friday and the greater bulk of that field is returning to contest these heats. A bouquet goes out to all of those involved who ensured that two seven dog heats got off the ground for this feature.

Here’s a look at the heat contenders, along with their respective TAB Futures quotes – win option 1975, Top 3 option 1976.

Wanganui Distance, heat 1 – race 8
1 Very Choosy $16 & $4: He slightly peaked on his gallop over the concluding stages when contesting his last start Group 2 747m assignment. He holds qualifying claims from his draw.
2 Peekay Shout $51 & $11: She flew home late when missing by a nose in her Tuesday C1 520m event. She did deliver a bold Cambridge 747m third in early January.
3 Dusty Gambler $2.20 & $1.25: He arrives here following his recent emphatic Group 2 747m win which was proceeded with his equally impressive Cambridge 650m win. He has since been hand slipped trialled around this venue.
4 Little Bit Funny $26 & $6: She’s fronting up here on the back of her sound recent Addington 645m efforts. She can be expected to be sighted whacking away solidly in this heat.
5 Box Vacant:
6 Bigtime Lonestar $51 & $11: That was a creditable first crack she had at 755m racing last Friday when she refused to flinch when racing handy to the pace throughout. She must use those same tactics in this event.
7 Vicki Keeping $16 & $4: This recent Aussie imported stayer has been screaming out for an extreme racing distance for a long time. She can qualify by backing up her sound Australian staying form.
8 Pretty And Pink $81 & $17: She has always raced like she would eventually develop into a genuine stayer, however her latest 527m outings has seen her getting tangled up in traffic.

  
Wanganui Distance heat 1 contenders, includes from left: Very Choosy; Peekay Shout; Dusty Gambler

Wanganui Distance, heat 2 – race 9
1 Pirate’s Curse $51 & $11: He adds a fair degree of interest to this heat after his pair of Addington 645m misses since he crossed the Tasman. He has won over 717m and 720 in New South Wales.
2 Nitehawk Rose $6 & $2: She is race fit and match hardened for this assignment after her strong 44.95s 755m feature win last Friday. She’s likely to get herself handy to the pace from where she won’t flinch.
3 Avenger Bale $6 & $2: Wow, what a sensational start he made to staying races when delivering his slick Addington track equalling 37.75s 645m win last week. The question that has to be asked here is, can he sustain that brilliance over this 755m trip? He must be respected.
4 Bigtime Welldone $61 & $13: He had his first taste over the longer trips when he settled in the rear group, then he was held in the midfield afterwards over 755m last Friday.
5 Box Vacant
6 Ring The Bell $6.50 & $2.10: Geez, it sure was great to see that highly credentialed stayer back in winning form when he demolished his last start rivals over the Ascot Park 630m trip. He has stylishly won his previous pair of 755m races around this circuit.
7 Cristiane Cyborg $16 & $3.50: She is taking her long awaited step up to the longer staying journey here. The interest will centre on when and how strong she decides to improve her field position.
8 Translator $7.50 & $2.20: This proven out and out railing staying girl must be utterly frustrated at continually drawing out in the wider traps. She was sighted dashing home late along the rail behind Nitehawk Rose over 755m last Friday.

  
Wanganui Distance heat 2 contenders, includes from left: Nitehawk Rose; Ring The Bell; Translator

By Peter Fenemor