New Sensation Semi Finals Won’t Disappoint
Once the semi-finals of the Magic Maiden are run and won on Friday night, the group racing spotlight will shine upon round two of the inaugural New Sensation series. The New Sensation Series carries with it a group three status and a terrific winner's cheque of $25,000 which has attracted some of Australia's most promising young pups.
With strict rules that competing canines must be under 27 months of age and must have won no more than ten wins from no more than twenty track appearances, this series certainly diversifies the Easter Egg carnival and gives the future stars of the track the chance to be victorious when they otherwise may have been out of their depth with the big guns in the Group One Golden Easter Egg.
Last Friday night eight impressive heats were held, with some standout athletes showcasing themselves as potential superstars.
Keinbah trainer Ryan Tredway looks to have unearthed himself a gem in talented sprinter Rigs who will line up in the first of four semi-finals from box seven. Beginning only moderately from the squeeze box in his heat, the red fawn son of Pure Octane showed plenty of field sense, navigating his way through the pack to score a very dominant win by an impressive five and a half lengths on the line. At what is a remarkable achievement, Tredway bred the powerful chaser himself from his talented race bitch Really Satisfies, with his quest in the breeding barn definitely paying off, as Rigs has now won six races after just eight starts on the racetrack. Rigs is certainly among the best pups of his age which was illustrated when the two year old made the final of the 2013 National Derby.
Whilst luckless in the final coming fourth to Golden Easter Egg hopeful Jagger Swagger, the dog certainly stamped himself as one to follow, running very slick times throughout the series at Unibet Gardens including a scintillating 29.57 victory from box eight. Whilst his class is clear, he does face some talented opposition in his semi-final with Trevor Hagneys flying 30.03 heat winner Johnny Fire exiting box five, and the ‘first section specialist' Helena Izmir boxed on his direct outside in eight. Helena Izmir has won four at the track with a sizzling 29.76 personal best to her name, and with her perfect box manners she should make the race a contest for whoever can keep up with her in the run to the first turn.
The fastest Heat winner from last week was the aptly named Fast Archer who was far too strong for his opposition when stopping the clock in a red hot 29.87 seconds. The son of Collision looks a star in the making and has definitely developed an affiliation with the Ultimo circuit, saluting in three of four attempts over the tracks gruelling 520 metre distance. Trained by Clay Mullens, the black chaser does prefer to be drawn on the inside, however with a nippy 30.04 second success at Wentworth Park from box seven to his name; he should be able to handle the wide alley on Friday night and only needs to get away with the pack to feature in the finish.
Fast Archer looks the standout performer in his semi-final, with his main danger appearing to be the 30.23 heat winner Super Colossal drawn inside him in box seven. Super Colossal is a winner of four races from six starts, with his speedy win last Friday his debut at Wentworth Park after previously racing in Victoria.
Mullens also has a qualifier in the third semi-final, with Fast Archer's litter sister Camouflage Model lining up from box eight. The pint size performer that tips the scales at just over 24 kilograms ran an honest third behind Super Colossal in their heat however she does come up against some fast types with last week's winners Sanjuan Slim and Charmed Assassin looking the likely pair to fight out the finish.
Sanjuan Slim kept his flawless Wentworth Park form intact, claiming his second victory from as many starts at headquarters in a swift 30.19 seconds. The Bit Chilli youngster does not turn two until June but has untapped potential winning four of his six career starts including a scorching 29.83 seconds at Unibet Gardens, with box three ideal for the chaser who has a liking for the rails.
The Jane Carruthers trained Charmed Assassin should also run a honest race with his nippy 29.97 heat triumph certainly capturing the attention of racegoers on Friday with the six box seemingly his biggest obstacle his semi-final this week. Another strong player in the third semi that should not be forgotten is Kristy Sultana's charge Sydenham Pearl who has the ability to bounce back to the winners list after two unlucky runs at Wentworth Park over the past two weeks. The Just the Best pup has won four from seven and has the ability to run quick times; however she will need to ping the lids with the rest of the field after her naughty habit of missing the kick of late.
Regally bred chaser Lachlan Loaded looks the goods in the fourth and final heat, with the son of Dyna Lachlan and the dependable little chaser Dolphin Call showing industry participants what he is capable of when blistering around the circuit in a fast 29.98 seconds in his heat. A winner of five races from twenty starts, he is proving to be very reliable with the handy record enhanced by a further eight placing's to his name. Jason Mackay's One Inch Punch will also be looking to make it into next week's final for his Richmond Vale mentor who also has his ‘golden girls' Sometimes Speedy, and Punch One Out engaged in Saturday's Golden Easter Egg Semi-finals. The son of Knocka Norris has won four races, and has had five starts at Wentworth Park for a handy win in 30.35 seconds.
One Inch Punch should improve from last week when he struck trouble after a slow start before showing plenty of determination to regain momentum and finish strongly in second place. The other main chances in heat four look to be litter brothers Dark Assassin and Tricky Business. The sons of National Futurity winner Daydream both have massive motors and are both more than capable of taking out the race. Dark Assassin is trained by Anthony Azzopardi and is a winner of seven from fourteen including a quick 30.02 at Wentworth Park, whilst Tricky Business for trainer Kristy Sultana is a winner of four from six and was a heat winner last week in a brilliant 30.14 seconds.
All four semi-finals look to be mouth-watering appetisers for Saturday's main course – the semis of the Golden Easter Egg. Every dog in this series is capable of winning with boundless amounts of talent ready to be showcased when the lids fly open this Friday.