PACERS – HEAT ONE
4YO Bettors Delight – Reality Check entire Ultimate Sniper lived right up to his Junior Free For All victory on NZ Cup Day with a brilliant success in the first of the 2200 metre pacers heats. Trained by Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen, Ultimate Sniper driven by Natalie was trapped wide from gate six with no option but to be restrained to settle four back in the moving line as stablemate Chase Auckland led from gate three.
Going forward three wide in the final circuit, Ultimate Sniper sustained a long run to gain the day by a half neck over Chase Auckland which looked the winner on turning, with Mach Shard (three back the markers third ¾ of a length away.) In a last half of 55.6 – quarter 27.5, Ultimate Sniper returned a mile rate of 1-53.6. Another of the ‘All Stars” stable Ashley Locaz galloped in the score up putting pay to his chances. Victorian San Carlo ran a ripper when fifth after racing exposed, while My Kiwi Mate wilted after a perfect one/one trip to be 7th. Queenslander Colt Thirty One was taken back to the rear from outside the front line and was never a chance, but finished his race of well to come in 9th, while NSW duo Conviction and Our Uncle Sam were never a chance, Conviction (four back the markers) 8th and Our Uncle Sam 10th from mid-field in the running line.
PACERS – HEAT TWO
A complete form reversal came about in the second heat, when 6YO Rock N Roll Heaven – Atomic Gold gelding A G’s White Socks came from nowhere to blouse a game Cruz Bromac in this heat. Having his first outing for master trainer Barry Purdon, A G’s White Socks who raced really well last season settled mid-field from gate three with veteran reinsman Maurice McKendry in the sulky as Luke McCarthy and Bling It On after being trapped wide from gate seven worked forward to assume control from On The Cards hitting the back straight on the first occasion. Still a long way off the leaders on turning as Cruz Bromac which raced in the open from the bell after going forward from near last got the better of the leader halfway up the running being hailed the winner. Coming with a withering burst of speed down the centre of the track, A G’s White Socks registered a length margin in 1-54.2 (Half 55.6 – quarter 27.3) over Cruz Bromac who certainly lost no admirers, with Thefixer (four back the markers) weaving a passage between runners for third 1 ¼ lengths back ahead of Star Galleria (three back the markers). Victorian Sicario (one/one last lap) finished 7th, while Bling It On may not have been suited in working to the front, folding up to be 10th.
TROTTERS – HEAT ONE
Clevedon (North Island) father and son – John and Joshua Dickie opened the first round 2200 metre Inter heats last Friday at Alexandra Park Auckland when 5YO Love You – Paramount Star gelding Paramount King scored in track record time of 2-40.5. Given a sweet passage from inside the second line trailing the pole line leader Big Jack Hammer, Paramount King was always travelling smoothly, so much so that Josh didn’t bother waiting for the passing lane to come into play, easing three wide approaching the home turn. Finishing solidly, Paramount King reached the wire 2 ¼ lengths clear of Massive Metro (three wide last lap from mid-field), returning a mile rate of 1-57.3 (last half mile 57.9-quarter 29.4). Big Jack Hammer having his first outing racing clockwise held down third ¾ of a length away and will be all the better for the outing. Valloria (one/one) was fourth. Hot favourite Habibi Inta was never in the hunt after not matching speed from gate four and settling in the second half of the field, but made ground late to finish fifth after racing wide in the final circuit.
TROTTERS – HEAT TWO
Sometimes unruly 5YO gelding Winterfell, a son of Majestic Son and Una Bromac was on his best behaviour to take the second heat in a mile rate of 1-58.1. Trained by Mark and Natalie for one of the leading stable clients Trevor Casey, Winterfell a top class juvenile starting from outside the front line spent the first half of the race at the tail of the field as Tough Monarch worked very hard from gate seven to cross Temporale (gate 4) prior to the bell. No sooner had Tough Monarch found the lead, Mark Purdon had set Winterfell alight to circle the field and race outside him for the final circuit. Applying plenty of pressure before the home turn, Winterfell crossed to lead into the straight and kicked away. Holding a handy margin halfway up the running, Winterfel just lasted by a head over Marcoola (three back the markers) which followed Winterfell into the final bend before switching down to the passing lane. Majestic Man (four back the markers) flashed home late for third a nose away and would have won in another stride. The mile rate 1-58.1 (half 55.5 – quarter 27.6).
Harness Racing Australia