Shimaguni Shines In Mckenna Memorial Heats
The outstanding young stayer set the time standard with a 34.05 win in heat two of five outstanding heats over the middle distance (595) in the McKenna Memorial at Sandown tonight.
Beginning just fairly from the 6 she was always second and third in running before sweeping past Strong Intention at the top of the straight to career away and win by 3.75 lengths.
Earlier in heat one, Full Circle (34.48) surprised at 25 to 1 running past the tear away leader, Pepe's Colour, also at 25 to 1 to leave many punters bewildered to see stars Symmetry, Yowyeh and Allen Lawson struggling to keep in touch
Heat three saw the two leaders again feature in the finish as Iceman Raikkonen lead to the top of the straight only to be collared by John Westerlo's Bling It On. Stopping the Clock at 34.46, Bling It On has now won 5 of his past 6 over the three distances at the two city tracks.
Heat four saw the ultra consistent Punk Warrior storm home in the straight to catch Okie Bale who had lead from the back straight and record a steady 34.54. Punk Warrior better know over the longer journeys has now recorded two wins and a second over the 595 in past three Thursday Sandown meetings.
Mystic Apple made it 7 in a row with a brilliant final heat win in the second fastest time, 34.31, beating the early leader Daintree Palace who just nosed out the fast finishing Pedros Finest .
The $40,000 Group 2 final will be run at Sandown Park on Thursday 14 July.
$40,000 Group 2 McKenna Memorial (595m)
- 1 – Mystic Apple – V Awramenko – 34.31
- 2 – Punk Warrior – M Briganti – 34.53
- 3 – Iceman Raikkonen – J Britton – 34.54
- 4 – Daintree Palace – M Gorman – 34.51
- 5 – Strong Intention – J Ennis – 34.27
- 6 – Full Circle – A Dailly – 34.47
- 7 – Bling It On – J Westerlo – 34.45
- 8 – Shimaguni – R Redenbach – 34.05
- 9 – Pepe's Colour – J Reynolds – 1st Res
- 10 – Okie Bale – A Dailly – 2nd Res