Van Helsing blitzes competition for 9 length win in QGold heats
The heats of the QGold were run on Friday night in Ipswich over the 431m with the results throwing up some real surprise packets.
QGold Heat One: Pixie My Love (1st)
PIXIE MY LOVE (box 8) turned the tables on the favourite Flaming Cyrus to take the win dominantly. Jumping out clear the Adam McIntosh runner shot to the lead clearing out to win by seven lengths in a time of 25.09.
QGold Heat Two: King Of Cool (1st)
Starting as odds on favourite ($1.75) KING OF COOL repaid favourite backers faith from the yellow box to win by 1.75L. The Mark Saal trained dog ran 25.14 to make it 5-4-2 from a 16-start career. The Jason Schmidt kennel took second placing once again with Flaming Curacao initially leading but being overtaken by the eventual winner on the final turn thanks to an inner ride on the rail.
QGold Heat Three: Side Kick (1st)
SIDE KICK showed the distance suited his style and pace with all three of his wins being at the 431m. Lining up against types that included Shouting Gunn, Booming Boo Boo and Walk Right In it was an impressive win by the Elaine Klassen dog winning by 2.75L.
“Happy with the run considering he had not run for a while,” Klassen said.
“The box did help.”
QGold Heat Four: Van Helsing (1st)
Mark Saal made it a card double with his Zambora Brockie dog, Van Helsing, recording a thumping win by 9L. From the gate he climbed onto rail and said goodbye from the first kick with Blue Jangles attempting to keep up but it was done and Van Helsing kicked away to put on the huge margin on the remainder of the pack.
Saal commented on his two winners and thoughts for the Final ahead of the box draw.
“Very happy with the performance of both boys there's nothing between them and hoping for a bit of luck with box draws.
“Van Helsing has never drawn inside box 4 on the circle so is due for a bit of luck.”
QGold Heat Five: Borneo Brave (1st)
The Jason Schmidt kennel got a win in the final heat with BORNEO BRAVE winning as the shortest favourite on the card at $1.25. Undefeated from four career starts and being by Hooked on Scotch he is showing his ability. The win was by 5.25L and made it two wins from box four and it will be an interesting prospect going forward to see what he can do.
“He went great!,” trainer Schmidt said.
“His box speed is his asset.”