Kyvalley Blur USA Photo by Stuart McCormick
Ballarat played host to the second round heats over 1710 metres of the Inter Dominion on Tuesday December 4, where favourites prevailed in most races.
PACERS: HEAT ONE
David Aiken’s much improved 5Y0 Bettors Delight-Charlotte Church gelding Wrappers Delight (Kima Frenning), a short priced $1.80 chance, made full advantage of his pole line draw to lead throughout in a rate of 1-53.6 (last half 53.9 – quarter 26.1) to account for a game Tiger Tara which after starting from the extreme draw moved outside him off a three wide trail on the back of San Carlo at the bell by 1.2 metres, with first night heat winner Spankem (one/two at bell) closing late for a fast finishing third 1.1 metres back in third place after following Our Uncle Sam home three wide in the last lap. Maximan was fourth .3 metres away after trailing the winner and using the sprint lane, while San Carlo was a shade disappointing when fifth 4.9 metres off the winner when following Tiger Tara in the final circuit.
HEAT TWO:
Kiwi Im Pats Delight ($1.40), a 4Y0 Bettors Delight-Righteous Franco entire trained in Christchurch by Cran Dalgety and driven by Gavin Lang, led throughout from gate two in registering a soft 3.7 metre margin in advance of Cant Refuse (three back the markers) which flashed home when extricated from a pocket in the straight, Im The Boss (gate five) was strong when third a half head away after racing exposed, a half head in advance of Bad Billy which trailed the winner. In a last half of 55.5 – quarter 26.7, Im Pats Delight returned a slashing mile rate of 1-52.2. Franco Nelson (one/one – three wide last lap) was fifth 5.5 metres back just in advance of Joes Star Of Mia which followed him all of the way.
HEAT THREE:
First round heat winner Cruz Bromac ($1.60) continued his outstanding form with an easy 2.8 metre victory in 1-53.5 (half 55.9 – quarter 26.3). Driven by co-trainer Natalie Rasmussen for the All Stars Team, Cruz Bromac wasn’t pushed at the start from gate four on the second line settling at the tail of the field as Audi Hare (gate two) and Mach Doro (gate five) engaged in a two horse war for the front running with Audi Hare winning out. When Galactic Star (another first round winner) went forward from the extreme draw at the start to park in the open racing for the bell, Cruz Bromac was set alight to race uncovered for the last lap. Sustaining the run, Cruz Bromac was too strong in the straight, scoring by 2.8 metres from Audi Hare which battled on courageously, with Galactic Star closing late after being extricated into the clear halfway up the running third a head away. Mach Doro (three back the markers was fourth and Mattgregor fifth after trailing the winner from outside the front line. A 7Y0 Falcon Seelster-Crown Defender gelding, Cruz Bromac registered his 19th success from 36 outings.
TROTTERS – HEAT ONE:
Dominion Handicap runner-up Kyvalley Blur ($6.90) returned to form after a dismal eighth to Tornado Valley on the first night to blouse his rivals by 1.7 metres in an exciting finish where five horses crossed the wire with 4.8 metres between them. Trained by Brent Lilley and driven by Chris Alford, Kyvalley Blur starting from the extreme draw settled well back in the field as Sky Petite (gate two) was able to cross Fabrication on her inside, with Illawong Armstrong (gate 3) outside the pair to eventually take control as Enrolled (gate 4) moved forward to occupy the spot outside the leader racing for the bell. Fabrication galloped shortly after the start putting himself out of business. Big Jack Hammer (one/one from gate five) eased three wide approaching the final bend to issue a challenge, while Monty Python from mid-field was four wide on straightening. Weaving in-between runners in the last lap to be four back approaching the home turn, Kyvalley Blur was extricated five wide in the straight and finished full of running to defeat Big Jack Hammer by 1.7 metres, with Sky Petite using the sprint lane to be a half neck back in third place 1.2 metres ahead of Enrolled and Kingdom Come (three back the markers). Hot favourite Maori Law was never a chance after getting buried four back the markers from inside the second line, breaking in the straight when cramped for room. A ever-reliable all American bred 11Y0 gelding by Chocolatier from Duo Val Car raced by Jim Connelly, Kyvalley Blur chalked up his 29th victory from 119 outings, returning a mile rate of 1-55.6 (last half 57.5 – quarter 28.9).
HEAT TWO:
There were divided opinions as to which of the two favourites would lead, with Speeding Spur ($2.10 gate five) and Tornado Valley ($2.20 from outside the front row) both brilliant beginners, but it was Tornado Valley which exploded away to cross Save Our Pennys (gate two) which led out momentarily from his ideal draw. This left Speeding Spur in the open with Rompers Monarchy (one/one), Red Hot Tooth (three back the markers) and Alderbeck three back in the moving line. Racing down the back straight on the final occasion the leading three chances drew away from their rivals, with Tornado Valley gaining a slight margin on turning. Not done with, Speeding Spur rallied in the straight, with Save Our Pennys using the sprint lane to issue a challenge, however Tornado Valley held a margin to the wire for Andy and Kate Gath to score by 2.1 metres over Save Our Pennys, with Speeding Spur a head away in third place. Tough Monarch (three wide last lap from last) was fourth six metres off Speeding Spur in fourth place. In a last half mile of 56.4 – quarter 27, Tornado Valley returned a mile rate of 1-56.1.
The all important third and final round of heats over the longer trip of 2555 metres will be held at Cranbourne on Saturday.
