Best bitches to battle it out in Winged Runner Trophy Final
Thursday night racing at Albion Park will be highlighted by a showcase of the top female talent in the final of the Listed Winged Runner Trophy.
The annual feature is open to bitches run over 520m with $24,000 to the winner. Last week the three heats were hotly contested, and following Monday's draw the final is sure to be just as fast and competitive.
The fastest time from the heats was recorded by the Jemma Daley-trained HARA'S PANDORA, who ran 29.80 from box five. She draws box one in the final with her two previous starts at the track, distance, and box resulting in second-placings.
Daley was still confident as the time run by the Fernando Bale x Hara's Honey bitch was faster than those two runs from box one (30.0/30.07) along with the stat her runner has won from various boxes throughout her career (28: 11-6-5).
From the same litter as the two-time record breaker Hara's Opal and winning $113,445 in prizemoney, her best time over the track and distance is 29.63.
Daley is excited about what her chaser is capable of and the draw result.
“You always want box one or inside for the finals, so we were very happy to come up with the one,” she said.
“Hopefully she can put her best foot forward.
“She was excited to be there last Thursday for the heats and I was very happy about that.
“She wants the rail – 29.80 is a super run but she still did not find the rail, so off a rails run she should appreciate it a lot more.
“It's a great field of bitches, so if she can jump and put herself in the right spot, she should finish strongly.”
2023 Winged Runner Trophy Heat 2 – Hara's Pandora (1st)
Daley also mentioned that the plans for Hara's Pandora were to step up to the 600m as her runs home are quite strong, so the performance on Thursday night will guide that decision.
Jedda Cutlack will prepare two starters in the race with SHAYE (box 6) and TUNGSTEN MISS (box 3).
Tungsten Miss led for most of the trip before finishing second by a tight 0.25 lengths. She must be respected with the heat being her first run in two months last going around at Albion Park finishing sixth over 600m.
The Fred Swain-trained BLACK MAGIC ROSE will start from box two, running third in her heat from box three in a time of 30.24.
Cyndie Elson prepares SPECIAL CYNDIE from the wide box (8), CINCINNATI LANA (5) along with the emergency CINCINNATI HOPE.
Special Cyndie won her heat by 5.75 lengths out of the inside box and handles all box draws, so she is up to the challenge here.
The field is rounded out by DR LIBBY for Tony Apap and JEWEL BEE out of the Raymond Burman kennel.
Rowan Anderson's Winged Runner Trophy Final selections
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1
HARA'S PANDORA
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3
TUNGSTEN MISS
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8
SPECIAL CYNDIE
