Bettors Strike won his third straight Australian feature by winning the Tasmania Cup
New Zealand gelding Bettors Strike continues to reach for the stars.
Bettors Strike claimed the Group One feature after a brilliant display in tonight’s $125,000 Wrest Point Tasmania Cup at Hobart.
The victory further emphasized the outstanding form that Bettors Strike has struck this season, an unlucky second placing in the million dollar New Zealand Cup behind Monkey King has proven to be a great springboard for his Australian campaign that has netted three straight feature race victories.
Bettors Strike controversially dead-heated in the $60,000 Cranbourne Cup before claiming the $400,000 Victoria Cup at TabcorpPark, Melton last start.
The Cran Dalgety trained star overcame a 20m handicap to down Victorian raiders Tanabi Bromac and Notaswethort in the 2579m feature.
Driven by ace Kiwi reinsman Dexter Dunn, Bettors Strike settled handy after a swift beginning and enjoyed the constant speed being set by Notaswethort with Power Of Tara facing the breeze.
Dunn made his move three wide at the bell but Notaswethort continued to roll at a strong speed down the back straight which left Power Of Tara vulnerable, race favourite Ohoka Nevada was also put under immediate pressure whilst Tanabi Bromac waited for the split to come after sitting in the trail.
Soon after straightening, Tanabi Bromac was being hailed the winner until Bettors Strike charged down the outside to snatch victory.
“He is just going super at the moment, he loves it here in Australia” winning driver Dexter Dunn declared.
“I was happy with the way he got away and settled mid-race, he was very determined in the home straight and finished it off strongly” Dunn added.
The time of 2.00.4 eclipsed the previous best time of 2.00.8 for the 2579m journey that was previously held by Victorian Manwarra Gogforgold who set the mark back in 2007.
After the lead time was registered in 76 seconds, sectionals over the final mile were posted in 31.6, 30.2, 28.2 and 28.5 seconds.
Since the race was transferred back to the standing start conditions after a eleven year stint as a mobile event, Bettors Strike became the first horse to overcome a handicap of 20m to claim the biggest race in Tasmania.
With tonight’s victory, Bettors Strike continues his charge up the Barastoc Grand Circuit leaderboard and is now only three points behind countrymen Monkey King who sits at the top with fifteen points.
Bettors Strike has been nominated for the $400,000 BIG6 Hunter Cup at MooneeValley on February 6 plus the million dollar Watpac Inter Dominion Pacing Series which is being staged in New South Wales starting on February 19 at Harold Park.
Bettors Strike is raced by Jim and Susan Wakefield.
