Jason Mackays 2011 Summer Cup With Zipping Lad
This $25,000 to the winner Group 3 event over the testing 720m at Wentworth Park last Saturday December 3 was won by the talented Zipping Lad trained by Jason Mackay for Fiona and Martin Hallinan.
Zipping Lad the $3.10 favourite chased hard in second and got the better of the tearaway leader Key To Eden ($5.80) close to home.
Victorian Granduer ($7.40) ran on stoutly from the rear early for third and appeared unlucky having lost valuable ground when checked going for an inside run at a vital stage of the race coming off the back.
The time was 42.49 and the margins were half a length by a head. New Zealand trainer Karen Walsh did a great job qualifying two for the final in Thrilling Quest and Thrilling Brat (fourth and fifth respectively).
The latter started second elect at $3.40 on the score of a very impressive win in fast time the week prior to the heats and a second to Zipping Lad in its heat. It's a big effort to campaign greyhounds from across The Tasman – congratulations Karen.
2011 Centrebet Bill Baker Bull N Barley Cup
This $8000 to the winner feature event commemorates the memory of former GBOTA Chairman Bill Baker – sponsored by Centrebet this year, this final conducted at Wentworth Park last Saturday December 3, resulted from heats at selected tracks, with special conditions (including a requirement that 3 of the last ten starts be at non TAB or TAB C tracks or a combination of both).
The race was won impressively by Imposing Jet trained in Queensland by former NSW trainer Dave Irwin.
The winner ($2.30 favourite) which won the Grafton heat of the series, punched through at the winning post after the start from box 1 and thereafter the result was not in doubt.
Eagleton Lad second in the Muswellbrook heat and first reserve from box 7 ran second, with Sheba the Gunnedah heat winner third. The time was 30.21 and margins 5 ½ by 1 ¾ lengths.