Magic Earner Qualifies Fastest For Group Two Dapto Puppy Classic
The final field for the 2014 Group Two Dapto Puppy Classic has been determined after four semi-finals were conducted at Dapto on Thursday night.
Magic Earner has qualified fastest for next Thursday night's final with a 29.77 run. Here's a run-down on how each of the semi-finals panned out:
Semi-Final One
As anticipated. Magic Earner (2) improved sharply after having her first look at the track last week. Beginning from box two, she was outpaced early by Ajita (3) but by the first turn she was clear. Her only dangers from then on appeared to be Alderley Reform (1) who had managed to push up along the rails into second and Magic Knight (8) who had safely negotiated his way across the field to find third position.
However, Magic Earner proved to be too strong and she kicked away for a five length win in a fast 29.77. The High Earner and Magic Capers (Spiral Nikita – Undermatched) bitch, trained by Jodie Lord, has now won five from 21. Alderley Reform, a chaser by Yahoo Omar and Bananarama (EA's Itzaboy – Cheeky Intent) finished second, securing trainer Terence Cahalan a spot in next week's final. Magic Knight held on to third.
Semi-Final Two
Diminutive 25kg chaser Lunar Sky (3) had to work hard to grab the lead in the early stages of the second semi-final with the pressure coming from the odds-on-favourite, Frattini (5). Frattini was spat out on the first turn and ended up at the rear of the field while Lunar Sky held her ground and led down the back. The Cosmic Rumble and Sky Fly High (Big Daddy Cool – Token Melody) bitch, trained by Amy Bennett, staved off a big challenge by George Micallef's Bertacious Bee (8) to score by a neck in 30.01. Magic Rama (4) filled the minors.
Semi-Final Three
They say lightning never strikes in the same place twice but Stilton Lucky (4) went against the grain in the third semi-final managing to win his second race in a row after cracking his maiden at his 10th start last week at huge odds. The Cosmic Rumble and Dynamic Shiraz (Bombastic Shiraz – Tarhooley Dooley)dog, trained by Phillip Goodsell, started this event at 50/1 and when he hit the lead down the back at speed it became clear he was going to score at those massive odds. He ended up recording a 1 3/4 length win in 30.09 over early leader Spring Bonanza (1). Spring Bonanza, a bitch by Spring Gun and Magic Fantasy (Premier Fantasy – Le Royale) was having her second look at the track for Queensland trainer Tom Tzouvelis and elected to use a bit of the track, leaving plenty of room for Stilton Lucky to scoot underneath her around the first turn. Billy Blue Eyes (2) finished back in third while race favourite Sokyo (6) struck interference straight out of the boxes and was never a factor.
Semi-Final Four
Rare Pearl (6) broke through for her first win at Dapto in the final semi-final. There was a mix-up at the start as Aerial Blitz (2) speared right, entangling Doozy (3), Enchanted Molly (4) and Le Burglar (5). Rare Pearl also copped a check but was able to steady herself and stay in a handy position. As the field rounded the turn, Aerial Blitz was still in front with Tonight Tonight (1) in second, enjoying an interference free run along the rails. At this stage Rare Pearl was in third, looming dangerously. By the 600m boxes, the Bekim Bale and La Pearl (Where's Pedro – Tiggerlong Nokia) bitch was in front and the Steve White trained chaser went on to score by seven lengths in 29.83. Tonight Tonight, a blue fawn bitch by Just The Best and Where's Fancy (Where's Pedro – Sweet Fancy) chased valiantly to fill second for trainer Garry Edwards and take the final spot in next week's final.
The field for next week's final (in no particular order) is:
Magic Earner – Jodie Lord (29.77)
Alderley Reform – Terrance Cahalan (30.11)
Lunar Sky – Amy Bennett (30.01)
Bertacious Bee – George Micallef (30.04)
Stilton Lucky – Phillip Goodsell (30.09)
Spring Bonanza – Tom Tzouvelis (30.21)
Rare Pearl – Steven White (29.83)
Tonight Tonight – Garry Edwards (30.32)
Reserves will be Magic Rama (30.17) for Lorraine Perrin and Magic Knight (30.25) for Frank Hurst.