A few of weeks ago Ashley Bradshaw trained the winners of three NZRS Sprint heats. The box draw for that final for her contenders certainly didn’t work out for her. Unfortunately a similar scenario has unfolded for her quickest heat winner for Thursday’s $7,500 Murray Wigley @ Ray White Harding Cup.
Pictured: Nicey Spicey delivering the quickest of the Murray Wigley @ Ray White Harding Cup heat wins (pic Dave Robbie)
One those NZRS Sprint heat winners Nicey Spicey ($18 TAB Final Field – option 991) flew away from her preferred trap eight draw in her heat for this series which set up her sharp pace making 17.20s heat win for Bradshaw. She must make a similar swift start from the ace trap here which is a trap that she hasn’t featured from before after three attempts.
It was Bruce Dann who mentored Fired Up Jasper ($2.40) to that recent $8,400 NZRS Sprint final win and he will be returning with his charge to contest this feature final after his bold 17.21s pace making heat win. He will exit from the three trap on Thursday.
Fiery Jen ($16) was another Dann prepared heat winner when she returned 17.28s for her dash. She also undertook a pace making role when delivering her win and she’ll be looking at doing likewise from trap seven on Thursday.
Cawbourne Britty ($18) produced a gritty heat effort when he held at bay a couple of handy sprinters when he nailed his 17.30s heat victory which was a personal best 295m time for the Craig Roberts trained sprinter. He will carry the blue racing vest on Thursday.
The other three Murray Wigley @ Ray White Harding Cup heat winners (from left): Fired Up Jasper; Fiery Jen; Cawbourne Britty - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
Lisa Waretini will chalk up a racing milestone with her sprinter Jinja Brian ($12) in this final after he chased home Nicey Spicey for his 4.25 length heat second. He will be loaded away into the eight trap for his 100th career race (his 99th at Addington). His kennelmate Ohoka Clare ($10) is the second reserve after she sprinted handy to the pace when delivering her three length heat third behind Fired Up Jasper.
Grid Lock ($2.50) adds interest to this event after his sound NZ debut outing where he wound up 1.25 lengths behind Cawbourne Britty in his heat. Natural improvement can be expected from this Dave and Jean Fahey trained sprinter who had clocked an earlier 17.19s 295m trial time. He will be sighted wearing the green racing vest on Thursday.
Wow Madonna ($7.50) has been a regular Addington 295m sprinter for a while now with all 68 of her race day outings being over this 295m dash. The Margret and Peter Binnie trained sprinter actually owns the quickest 295m field time with her best being a tidy 17.02s effort. She will hop away from trap two.
Smash Attack ($16) completes the drawn field for local conditioner Malcolm Grant. He will be tossed the gold racing vest to parade in after he completed his heat assignment two lengths behind Fired Up Jasper. Smash Wild ($16), who ran a close up three quarter length heat third to Fiery Jen, occupies the first possie on the reserves bench for Grant.
By Peter Fenemor
