Barrier draws split fancied types in the Vicbred 3YO trots

24 June 2016 | Michael Howard
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Cranbourne trainer Michael Hughes.

Cranbourne trainer Michael Hughes.

Advantage Sundons Courage and Princess Phoenix after the three-year-old trotters' barrier draws for the Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series finals.

Drawn on Friday night amid the pacers' semi-finals, Sundons Courage drew the front row in the colts and geldings and fellow heat winner Cruisin Around will start from barrier eight, while Sky Majesty will start from barrier 12 in the fillies, opening the door further for her rivals.

The three-year-old fillies semi-final promises to be an evenly fought and engaging final, with several winning hopes.

Among them is Princess Phoenix, a $1.80 favourite in the second heat at Bendigo last Wednesday, who led but was beaten into third by winner Into The Unknown, from Donna Lewis’ Toolern Vale stable, and Geoff Webster’s Rift Valley.

The first heat was all about Sky Majesty (Skyvalley/Mystic Hush). Parwon trainer-driver Jodi Quinlan was rapt with her filly’s heat win, which she said was one of her “best runs to date”.

The 12m victory came after she found the front and careered away, and Sky Majesty should be right in the final despite the tough draw.

“I was very happy with her heat,” Quinlan said. “She’s a good chance. There’s not a lot of difference between the horses in the grade, it is pretty even.

“(Sky Majesty) can sit and sprint. She is not a class above them, but I think they have all come back to each other.”

The three-year-old colts and geldings final also promises much, not the least of which is another showdown between Cruisin Around (Bacardi Lindy/Cloud Chaser) and Sundons Courage.

Both won their heats, with Sundons Courage (Sundon/Truscott Photo) a 1.6m winner for Muckleford trainer Chris Angove and Bolinda driver Chris Alford, with Brent Lilley’s $34-shot Kyvalley Tinman running into second.

Cruisin Around’s win was even tighter. Driven to one-out one-back by Myrniong’s Greg Sugars, Cruisin Around lost touch with front runners Calder Knight and Big Jack Hammer at the final bend but wound up sufficiently in the straight to win by a short half-head.

Bannockburn trainer-driver Geoff Webster’s three-year-old Big Jack Hammer (The Press/Running Pinevale) punched on for second in the breeze and will be a threat come next Friday’s final, says Cranbourne’s Michael Hughes, trainer of Cruisin Around.

“There are three or four really good horses,” Hughes said. “(Cruisin Around) has always had a ding-dong battle with Sundons Courage. Big Jack Hammer looked back on song, and a few others are also a chance. It will all come down to who has the best luck.”

Hughes’ confidence about his own charge’s chances were only emboldened with Cruisin Around’s heat win.

“I think he went pretty good. I was a little worried when he lost ground at the top of the straight, but he did a good job to pick them up in such a quick quarter,” Hughes said.

“I give him a really good chance as long as he does everything right. The horse is really good, feels really good, there are no issues. He is a good sit-sprinter, but has also done it the tough way and led before.”

 

Barrier draws:

Three-year-old colts and geldings trotters

1: Kyvalley Tinman
2: Skyflyer
3: Big Jack Hammer
4: Calder Knight
5: Sundons Courage
6: Cargerie
7: Sun Valley Road

8: Cruisin Around
9: Diamond Wes (emg)
10: Sky Me A River
11: Menewa
12: Shetland 
13: Imahe Man (ODM)

 

Barrier draws:

Three-year-old fillies trotters

1: Aldebaran Eve
2: Never Never Land (emg)
3: Princess Phoenix
4: Mizurri
5: Defence Power
6: Into The Unknown
7: The Cooler

8: Tension Seeker
9: Getthenet
10: Illawong Bliss
11: Rift Valley
12: Sky Majesty
13: Scottish Sardius (ODM)

 

Media enquiries:

Michael Howard (HRV Media/Communications Co-Ordinator)
t: 03 8378 0286 | e: 
mhoward@hrv.org.au | tw: @MichaelRHoward

 

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