All three favourites in last night’s two-year-old Diamond Classic heats have safely progressed through to next Friday’s final at Gloucester Park.
Unconditional, Minor Catastrophe and Always An Angel were favoured to progress to next Friday’s $100,000 final and each scored contrasting wins.
The Greg and Skye Bond-trained Unconditional was able to comfortably find the front from barrier two in the first heat and rated 2.00.6 in the 14.6m win.
Minor Catastrophe maintained her unbeaten record in the second heat of the evening but it did have a much more interesting plot than the opener.
Chris Lewis looked to find the lead from barrier two with the David Young-trained filly but was held out by the well fancied Letsdancetonight.
Lewis was able to slot three pairs back on the pegs and the filly was able to gradually wear down Foxy Rose when she got clear running on the turn for home.
Always An Angel was made to work for her win in the third heat of the night, where she rated 1.59.3 sitting outside Benesari Lane in the breeze throughout.
The Justin Prentice-trained filly will now take a four race winning streak into the final next week and her only defeat came at her first start in March.
Star For Me, Secret Reaction, Star Of The Bay, Foxy Rose, Shes A Bright Star, Letsdancetonight, Bettor Beach Belle, Just For Love and Yellowroseoftexas will join the three heat winners in the Group 1 final.
Meanwhile, Prentice looks well placed to complete the three-year-old Diamond Classic-Pearl Classic double with Alta Louisa drawing barrier one for this Friday’s Perth Plasterboard Centre Diamond Classic (2130m).
Alta Louisa was an eye-catching third to Blockjorg and Double Expresso in the second heat of the Diamond on May 12 and looks to get her chance to lead in the $50,000 final.
Blockjorg will start from barrier 10 and looks poised to get a similar run to what she got when winning the heat.
Double Expresso looms as another key player in the race from barrier 12.
Star Fromthepalace, who won the other heat of the Diamond Classic, will start from barrier two.
A field of six will contest the Members Sprint (1730m) for the Free-For-All pacers.
Chicago Bull has drawn barrier three with Vultan Tin and Our Jimmy Johnstone drawn to his inside.
El Jacko, Golden State and Iceenothink round out the field.
Tim Walker