Outside Pass heading to SA after winning QLD Sprint final
TONY Apap's Outside Pass stamped herself as the finest sprinter in the Sunshine State with an emphatic triumph in Thursday night's Queensland Sprint final at Albion Park.
The daughter of Head Bound and Tina's Show was sent to the boxes as the $2.70 favourite following on from her stunning 29.61 heat victory last week. When the lids flew open, the black bitch was only fairly into stride from box eight and was caught wide off the track in the charge around the first turn.
Despite the less than ideal beginning, Outside Pass continued to push up towards the lead through the pen, finding the fence and railing through into third spot.
Down the back and the 29.8 kilogram bitch started gaining momentum, hooking to the outside of the leading duo and storming down the centre of the track, assuming the lead from kennel mate Swap Ya (box four) in the home straight and clearing away to score by one and a half lengths on the line.
Clocking 29.92 over the 520m trip, the victory took Outside Pass' career record to 13 wins and seven minor placings from 29 career starts, while the triumph also took her prize money earnings above the $90,000 mark.
By winning the final, Outside Pass has booked her spot in the Group 1 National feature to meet the best of the best from the other states around the country. She will now make the trip to Angle Park in South Australia, with the $75,000 to the winner feature set to be run and won on Saturday August 27.
Also heading to the Festival State is Big Easy Red who took out the Queensland Distance Final on Thursday night. The red brindle dog was able to work his way to the top of the field soon after box rise, leading all the way from box seven to defeat the state's best stayer, Cyndie's Magic (box three), by four and a half lengths in a fast 41.73.
Trained by Rusty Dillion, the son of Barcia Bale and River Scene has now won 12 races, with the National Distance Final the biggest event he has qualified for throughout his 28 start career.