Dash Of Blue reigns in Shane McQueen final
A healthy crowd was on course at Angle Park on Thursday night with the headline act on the 12-race program being the final of the Shane McQueen run over the middle distance.
In an even and competitive field drawn from four heats last week, it was Dash Of Blue for trainer Richard Pearce who claimed the race winning in a tight finish from Could Be King and Springvale Max in a time of 34.41.
Jumping from box one. Dash Of Blue was able to get to the front from the inside draw holding out Springvale Max and Could Be King in the first section.
Could Be King checked off heels around the turn allowing Ravers Army to work its way into the race down the back but Dash Of Blue found another kick, getting away to hold off the fast finishing Could Be King with Springvale Max holding on for third.
Speaking after the race, trainer Richard Pearce said he was thrilled Dash Of Blue was able to produce in the final after a strong run behind Could Be King in the heats last week.
“He followed up a good run last week where he finished well,” Pearce said.
“He jumped well and he got to the front and I thought he was in a good position when he passed me the first time.”
Pearce looked a little worse for wear on Thursday night after a training incident with Dash Of Blue left Pearce with a nasty black-eye but the trainer was in good spirits after the win.
“I put him over the sixes and he hit me under the chin and he put me into the concrete and it seemed to the world for him because he came out flying,” Pearse said jokingly post-race.
A long-time trainer, Pearce said he was appreciative of the performance of Dash Of Blue and said it was nice to win a race of the caliber of the Shane McQueen.
“It is a special night,” he said.
“It has been a while since I have had a good dog. I have had Pancho and a few other good dogs but that was a really good win, he is a handy dog.”
While the Shane McQueen final was the main attraction on the card, there were also a number of prominent performances that caught the eye on the Angle Park card.
In the opening race, Bedrock Will and Zipping Neutron resumed their rivalry over the 730m journey with Zipping Neutron able to reverse the result from last week. After Bedrock Will led for much of the race, Zipping Neutron was able to come over the top and win by one and a quarter length in a race which shapes as a good form guide for the Bayroad Queen series which kicks off later this month.
In race seven, the Ben Rawlings-trained Agent Nine Nine made it five consecutive wins with an impressive performance in the fast class race of the night.
Jumping well from box four, Agent Nine Nine took the lead on the first turn and kicked away to win by almost two lengths in a quick 30.45 and holding off a good run from Fabulous Ebony.
Rawlings was able to make it a training double in race 11 with Psychotic Babe producing an excellent victory winning by three and a half lengths in 30.78.
Promising chaser Where’s Poppy continued its impressive start to its career making it two wins from two starts for trainer Kirin Corby.
Where’s Poppy jumped well producing a 5.28 time to the post and was never headed as it won by three lengths in a time of 30.73.