Pebble’s Girl clocks personal best in Darwin Cup heats
Pebble's Girl stamped her ticket for the Darwin Cup on Sunday at Winnellie Park, storming home over the top of the heavily supported Manila Prince.
In the first of four heats for the Group 3 feature, the Jamie Hosking-trained bitch started at $2.60 with online bookmakers.
On box rise, the fancied Manila Prince ($2.70) got out to dictate terms from the inside box with Pebble's Girl in company.
On the turn into the straight, Pebble's Girl came from second place to overtake the lead and go on to win in front of Manila Prince and Tiggerlong Rheve ($13.10).
She won by close to five lengths in a time of 31.45, stripping back her previous personal best over the trip of 31.58.
Trainer Hosking said his racer had proven handy of late and her bloodline had performed well in the Top End.
“She's been a quiet achiever of late,” he said.
“She has the right race to win here.
“An inside draw for the final would be nice.
“Fun fact her mum and dad both raced in Darwin and her dad Arnhen Villain ran second in a Darwin Cup.”
The Arnhen Villain x Rimba Sambia bitch has 10 wins and 38 placings from a 79-start career as she prepares for the final on August 6.
Darwin Cup Heat 1 replay – Pebble's Girl
Yankee Costanza was a $1.70 favourite in the second heat, but he failed to fire as the Steele Bolton-trained dog Omar Monelli ($3.20) took top honours.
Last start Omar Monelli won by 3.75 lengths when running the trip in a fast 31.64.
In his heat he showed he still had even more speed, getting out to the lead and burning them on the turn.
He would hold off challenges to win ahead of Rippin' Tomahawk ($5.70) and Corn Cob ($24.60) in 31.48.
The Orson Allen x Leisel Monelli dog has five wins and seven placings from 23 starts.
Darwin Cup Heat 2 replay – Omar Monelli
Trainer Bolton would add a second winner from the heats after his chaser Misdemeanour won the third in an all-the-way effort.
Jumping from the inside box as a $3.70 chance, she used the alley perfectly to rally through to the lead.
She ran on to win by a six and a half-length margin in front of Eagle Monelli ($2.40) and kennelmate Dusty Bourbski ($2.30).
Trainer Hosking is expecting improvement from runner-up Eagle Monelli next week in the $25,000-to-the-winner final.
“It was his first look at the track and first run over 500 for a few months,” he said.
“Both dogs in with a chance but there are some quality local and interstate dogs in the race.
“Box draw like any race will pay a big part.”
Darwin Cup Heat 3 replay – Eagle Monelli
In the last heat, $1.90 favourite Nangar Chief served up a performance worthy of a winner for trainer Shayne Williams.
On box rise, he got out to work his way across and take the lead.
As the field turned for home Queen Lina ($6.10) ran on in second and Oh Minnie ($2.80) in third.
That was the order crossing the line, even with a last-minute surge from Oh Minnie to challenge for second.
Stopping the clock in 31.02, Nangar Chief heads to next weekend's final as the fastest qualifier.
Darwin Cup Heat 4 replay – Nangar Chief
Last year's Darwin Cup was won by the Margaret Hepple-trained Manzu by a margin of 1.75 lengths in front of Lucky Lance and Showdown.