Pretty Cindy salutes on another big night for Belford
On a night where trainer Brad Belford crack 100 winners for 2023, Townsville turned it on for the heats of the Grand Prix (498m) on Tuesday.
Belford took another four winners from the 12-race card, with boom bitch Pretty Cindy saluting as a $2 favourite in her Grand Prix heat as she claimed her third-straight win.
“She is a little bit flat after the run but to be expected after that race,” Belford said.
“She will just need today and then she will come good.”
The victory adds to her career stats of 37: 13-2-4 and she has now gone unplaced only once in her last 12 starts for the kennel.
Belford was impressed with the performance, run in 28.75 as she shaved time off her previous two runs and set a new personal best at the trip.
“She is going enormous,” her trainer said.
“When you lead it's after the battle, but she has her work cut out for her in the final.
“That other dog is an absolute jet.
“We just need to lead and if he finds trouble, she will beat him.”
Townsville Grand Prix Heat 2 replay
Winner: Pretty Cindy (28.75)
That other dog is Redemption Day, who was resuming in the heat, having last run on April 25 in the Anzac Day Trophy Final when only beating one home.
The Harold Hovi-trained chaser returned to the track with a bang, taking his heat by 3.5 lengths and in a time of 28.49.
“I was happy with the run,” Hovi said.
“I expected him to do well, and if he jumps well there is no danger to him winning, so when he did that I knew how it was going to play out.”
He was paying as short as $1.04 with some bookmakers before the jump and got the job done off the back of a clear run.
Townsville Grand Prix Heat 1 replay
Winner: Redemption Day (28.49)
The My Redeemer x Fancy Dancer dog has lined up 36 starts for 18 wins and 10 placings with prize money of $92,945.
He relishes the 498m at Townsville, with 10 wins and five placings from 20 runs over the track and distance, including a win in the Townsville Wildcard Final and second in the City Council Mayors Trophy Final.
He strung five straight wins over the journey earlier this year and will not be dropping back in distance.
“He will never be going back to that distance,” Hovi said.
“380 is not his game and it's just far too short for him.”
As he prepares for the final, Redemption Day is sure to be hot property in betting.
As trainers Belford and Hovi both said, it will come down to the box draw.
In the third and final heat, the Belford-trained Winlock All Over began as a $1.45 favourite but would miss out on the placings with Blazing Infrared ($7.50) winning for trainer Hayley Wooler.
Townsville Grand Prix Heat 3 replay
Winner: Blazing Infrared (28.90)