Xylia Allen The Yardstick In Chairmans Cup Heats
Superstar bitch Xylia Allen stamped her authority on yet another Group race series when she set the time standard in the heats of the Chairmans Cup at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
The black flash was as dominant as ever en route to her 40th career win, roaring away to win by 5 1/2 lengths in a slick 41.76, which is 0.23 seconds outside the track record she set back in April.
After beginning on terms with the field from box six, Xylia Allen quickly found the front in the first heat. Gold Affair Two (8) managed to remain within a length of her until they passed the post the first time before the champion proceeded to give a quality field a galloping exhibition.
The daughter of Turanza Bale and Tayah Bale (Droopys Vieri – Francesca Bale) notched up her 12th win from her last 14 starts and is likely to be sent out as favourite for next Saturday's $25,000 to-the-winner event.
Gold Affair Two hung on for second placing with Bailey Rose a further 2 1/4 lengths back in third. Zipping Rory (5) claimed fourth to also advance to the final.
The second heat saw a boilover when the Peter Daprain trained Zipping Maggie (3) showed the virtue of racing on the pace to defeat recent National Distance Champion Sweet It Is by 2 1/4 lengths in 42.00.
The daughter of Turanza Bale and Natalie Rass (Malfoy – Al Fresco) was fourth away but worked her way to the front by the post the first time.
She wasted no time in putting a margin on the field, opening up a four-length ascendency heading into the back straight. A margin she would maintain until the final stages of the race.
All eyes were on the odds-on favourite Sweet It Is (4) who was finding her fair share of trouble back in the field. By the time she found some space it was too late and she could only manage to run home for second.
The win was the 27-month old bitch's 10th from just 20 starts and, given it was her first run at Wentworth Park, she may be open to improvement in the final.
Liara Allen (2) hung on for third place while My Asuncion (8) booked a place in the final with a fourth placing.
The box draw for the Group Three 2014 Charimans Cup Final is as follows;
1 – Bailey Rose (Eddie Lieshout)
2 – My Asuncsion (Adele Powell)
3 – Zipping Maggie (Peter Daprain)
4 – Sweet It Is (Darren McDonald)
5 – Xylia Allen (Jenny Hunt)
6 – Zipping Rory (Bethany Daprain)
7 – Liara Allen (Steve Collins)
8 – Gold Affair Two (Robert Britton)
Reserves
9 – Dyna Willow (Steve Collins)
10 – Queen Marina (Nolene Holloway)