Strong Line Up for Heats of Saturday’s Group 2 Hesa Felon at Stud Gold Cup Heats
The two heats of Saturday's Group 2 Hesa Felon at Stud Gold Cup over the 720 metres at Wentworth Park promise to provide two exciting contests.
The heats, races 5 and 6 on the program include Blue Lorian, the winner of its last 5 starts, all over the Wentworth Park 720 metres, Forty Twenty which easily won the 715 metres Group 2 Maidment Memorial at Sandown recently and Dashing Corsair winner of last year‟s National Sprint Championship at Cannington and now showing his ability as a stayer.
Blue Lorian looks the pick in heat 1 having won 8 out of its past 9 starts including the 5 consecutive wins over the 720 at Glebe headquarters. Fancy Mandy is an interesting runner in this heat, coming off two impressive wins over the Dapto 600 metres.
Fancy Mandy set record breaking sections in winning at Dapto over the 600 metres and connections are looking for a good showing over the testing 720 metres at Wentworth Park.
“She usually goes very fast early and if she does not get to the lead too early and burn herself out we are confident she will run a bold race over the longer journey,” commented trainer Frank Hurst.
Fancy Mandy won a qualifying heat of the Group 1 Vic Peters Classic over the 520 metres at Wentworth Park in October in a sizzling 29.63 before winning a semi and finishing fourth in the final to the Hurs's other finalist Dancing Surf. So there's no doubting Fancy Mandy's ability and Saturday will tell us if she can step up to the staying ranks.
In the second heat Lochinvar Vogue, second to Mantra Lad in the recent Group 1 Association Cup over 720 metres at Wentworth Park is drawn best of the main chances in box 2. Trainer Robert Smith goes into the race full of confidence.
“My dog pulled up brilliantly after the Association Cup and he likes Wentworth Park,” Smith said.
“I think I can beat Forty Twenty the way the box draw has come out with Forty Twenty drawn out wide in 6,” Smith added.
Queensland visitor Dashing Corsair trained by Dwyer Lennon was very impressive winning a heat of the Association Cup in fast time before chasing hard behind the mighty Mantra Lad and dropping out to finish a well beaten fifth in the final. He should be forgiven that failure and looks a threat from box 8, the same alley he drew in his Association Cup heat win.
The official box draw for the final on Saturday week February 13 will be conducted on the track after race 7 on Saturday. In addition to the first prize of $25,000 there will be a presentation rug, trophy and a free service to Hesa Felon awaiting the winner.
With Hesa Felon now standing at stud the owners were delighted with the opportunity to promote their stud dog by joining the ranks of the NSW GBOTA‟s Wentworth Park sponsors.
Gates open at 5.30 pm on Saturday with the first race at 7.30 pm. Entry is $5.50 adults and children under 18 are free.
2010 Hesa Felon at Stud Gold Cup Heat 1
February 6, 2010 Wentworth Park 720m
Box 1 – Royal Minx Robert Littlefield
Box 2 – Miss Content Michael Jenner
Box 3 – Free Your Mind Jeff Crawford
Box 4 – Fancy Mandy Tracey Hurst
Box 5 – So Seductive John Free
Box 6 – Blue Lorian Peter Whye
Box 7 – Little Miss Pink Mark Arncliffe
Box 8 – Chilli Jim Ken Burnett
2010 Hesa Felon at Stud Gold Cup Heat 2
February 6, 2010 Wentworth Park 720m
Box 1 – Chilli Pug Ken Burnett
Box 2 – Lochinvar Vogue Robert Smith
Box 3 – Miss Jersey Glenda Dart
Box 4 – Premier Class Jamie Saunders
Box 5 – Royal Pink Robert Littlefield
Box 6 – Forty Twenty John Heard
Box 7 – Six Angels Mark Arncliffe
Box 8 – Dashing Corsair Dwyer Lennon