Xylia Allen Dominates Victorian Distance Championship Heats
Champion race bitch Xylia Allen has set up a date with destiny after qualifying fastest for the final of the 2014 Group Two Victorian Distance Championship at The Meadows on Saturday night.
The daughter of Turanza Bale and Tayah Bale (Droopys Vieri – Francesca Bale) stopped the clock at 42.47 in the third and final heat en route to a four length win. She now has the opportunity to become the sport's greatest prize-money earner of all time if she can take out next week's final.
After exiting box two in sixth place, Xylia Allen found the rails and bided her time on the fence. She then exploded down the back straight to make her way to second before zooming past early leader Unix Bale (3) in the home straight and racing away to win.
Lethal Three (4) chased home Xylia Allen well for second place while Zipping Rory (7) filled third.
Just as she did in the recent Group 2 McKenna Memorial Final, Xylia Allen will exit box one in the $40,000 to-the-winner event next Saturday night.
Earlier in the night, Anakie mentor Jeff Britton took out heat one when Mepunga Tiara (8) returned to her front running best to score by 1 1/2 lengths in 42.72.
After being sent out and odds-on favourite, the dual Group One finalist opened up a big break early before she had to dig deep to stave off the strong challenges of youngster Zipping Maggie (6). Arejay Smokey filled third position.
The second heat went the way of the Darren McDonald trained Zipping Joe (4). The regally bred son of Bombastic Shiraz and Or Catra (Brett Lee – Gold Serenade) displayed his customary strong finish to register the time of 43.00, winning by 3 1/4 lengths.
After jumping mid-field, the 29kg dog made his way to third as they passed the post the first time as Galloping Rocky (8) made the pace up front as a tear-away lamp lighter.
It was not until the field swung around the home turn that Zipping Joe's superior strength became evident as he overhauled the early leaders to win.
Dyna Willow (7) ran a quality race to finish second and qualify for the final. In her first race start since April, the Steve Collins trained bitch began well and found trouble when attempting to cross to the fence. She still managed to find the tenacity to run on again and grab second. Early leader Galloping Rocky clung on to third place.
The box draw for next Saturday night's $40,000 Group Two Victorian Distance Championship is as follows;
1 – Xylia Allen (Jenny Hunt)
2 – Zipping Maggie (Peter Daprain)
3 – Lethal Three (Kelly Bravo)
4 – Dyna Willow (Steve Collins)
5 – Zipping Joe (Darren McDonald)
6 – Mepunga Tiara (Jeff Britton)
7 – Arejay Smokey (Bob Iredale)
8 – Zipping Rory (Bethany Daprain)
Reserves
9 – Galloping Rocky (Robert Conway)
10 – Liara Allen (Steve Collins)