Three outstanding finals capped off a terrific 2010 Sky Super Sprint series at Newcastle last Saturday night. The series saw heats held at Penrith, Bankstown and Menangle leading into the rich $30,000 finals. The series attracted runners from NSW, Canberra, Queensland and Victoria with several of the visitors making it through to the finals. The first final was for C2 horses and it was a thrilling finish. Victorian Laughing Lilly for driver Chris Alford started a long odds on favourite. The promising mare led into the home straight after sectionals of 29.2 – 30.5 -28.3 but she drifted off under pressure in the run home and Lucky Vista for Cindy Rixon took advantage of the run and scooted through to claim a half head victory over Laughing Lilly. The last 400 metres was covered in 28.0 for a mile time of 1.56. 0. Dashing Christian for Blake Fitzpatrick was only a head away in 3rd place.
The second final was for the C1 horses and punters were on the mark when they backed visiting Qld Maywyn Tonz into odds on favouritism. Local reinsman Michael Formosa took the drive and he worked the promising 4 year old to the death seat from gate 9 and took the lead soon after straightening and was never headed to record a 3.7 metre victory over Dripping Class with It and a Bit a further 1.8 metres away in 3rd place. The other fancied runner Marooned for Frank O’Sullivan was slightly disappointing in finishing 5th after leading with a lap to go. The sectionals were 28.5 – 29.9 – 27.7 – 28.9 for a mile time of 1.55.0.
The third final was for C3/5 mares and it was a local victory when San Fran Lady saluted for trainer Shane Tritton and driver Rod Pike. The four year old mare has been undefeated in four starts since arriving from New Zealand. She showed very good gate speed to lead from gate three and was able to dictate terms in front and got away with some cheap sectionals to make it almost impossible to run her down. She won by 5.2 metres from Tara Royale with Tritton’s other runner, Lady Peyton finishing 3rd beaten 6.7 by her stable mate. The sectionals were 28.3 -32.0 -29.9 – 27.5 for a mile time of 1.57.8.
The Sky Super Sprint series finals were a nice prelude into Newcastle’s biggest night of the year with the running of the $60,000 Group Two Newcastle Mile this Saturday night.
