Over Here Sets The Standard In Group 2 Bogie Leigh Futurity Heats
FOUR heats of the Group 2 Bogie Leigh Futurity, open to female greyhounds, were conducted at Albion Park on Thursday night, with Peter Ruetschi's Over Here the only greyhound to break the 30-second barrier.
Jumping from box four in heat two, Over Here was heavily supported by punters at $2.00 and rewarded favourite backers with a sizzling 29.84 performance over the 520-metre distance. Coming into the series on the back of a second placing last week and three consecutive wins prior to that, the daughter of Don't Knocka Him and Where Are You led all the way and scored by three-and-one-quarter-lengths over runner-up Titan Ash for Raymond Burman.
A boilover occurred in the first heat with $23.10 outsider Pocahontas getting the cash in an impressive display from box five. Stepping well from the middle alley, the Patricia Carrington-trained chaser sat behind initial leader Honey Bazaar in the early stages and held off a late charge from Cyndie's Magic to score by three-quarters-of-a-length. Recording a time of 30.27, the daughter of Cosmic Chief and Aunty Joan notched up her first win at Albion Park, giving her trainer plenty of confidence heading into next week's final. Cyndie's Magic produced the run of the night to qualify for the feature, coming from last to almost snatch victory from Pocahontas on the line. The William Elson-trained bitch will only need some luck in running next week to feature heavily in the finish.
Punters were unsure where to place their loyalty in heat three, with five greyhounds starting at odds under double figures. Prominent Queensland trainer Tony Brett's Crazy Sexy was made the $3.20 top elect, just ahead of Mal Cuneo's Minnesota Nice, which jumped from box one. The inside runner was best away at box rise, however faced early pressure from Dynamite Speed and Kingsbrae Lavina from boxes four and five respectively. Colin Byer's Dynamite Speed gapped his rivals heading into the back straight and went on to score comfortably by a length-and-three-quarters in a smart time of 30.06. It was a huge night for the daughter of Where's Pedro and Spring Extreme, which was successful at her first attempt at Albion Park and recorded her third consecutive win in the process. John Dart's Kingsbrae Lavina was gallant in defeat, recording a speedy time of 30.16 in running second.
William Elson qualified his second runner for the final in the last heat of the night, with Abby's Magic producing a brilliant effort after dwelling at box rise. The daughter of Magic Sprite and Regal Silver was poorly away, before finding a glorious rails run at the first turn, enabling her to sit in second position heading into the back straight. Early leader Blue Statuesque flew the lids from out wide, however ran off on the home turn, giving Abby's Magic a chance to career away by two-and-a-half lengths in a speedy time of 30.12. It was also Abby's Magic's first win at the Albion Park circuit. Favourite runner Magic Maiden made up good ground to finish second for trainer Errol Kleinhans after finding trouble early on.
Next week's final carries a winner's purse of $50,000.
Group 2 Bogie Leigh Futurity Final – 16th April, 2015– Albion Park 520-metres
1 – Kingsbrae Lavina – John Dart
2 – Pocahontas – Patricia Carrington
3 – Titan Ash – Raymond Burman
4 – Abby's Magic – William Elson
5 – Magic Maiden – Errol Kleinhans
6 – Over Here – Peter Ruetschi
7 – Dynamite Speed – Colin Byers
8 – Cyndie's Magic – William Elson
Reserves
9 – Ultra Blue – Errol Kleinhans
10 – This Time Reba – Peter Ruetschi