Dash Of Blue sets the tone in North v South challenge
It was an excellent night of chasing at Gawler on Sunday with the highlight of the card being the first round of the North v South Challenge series.
In the first North 531m heat, the Richard Pearce trained Dash Of Blue was simply brilliant, as he led all the way in a flying 30.56, which was significantly quicker than the South heat.
From box one, he was able to hold out the favourite in Agent Nineteen, which was a surprise, but when he did it was essentially race over. Dash Of Blue held a slim lead to the back, before running home in a terrific 14.58, which is quite fast.
It was an easy three length win in the end and a good effort as he had been showing his superiority over the middle distance in recent starts.
The South heat was an even and hotly contested event, it was the Tim Richards trained Oh Louise, who proved far too strong for the others, as she ran away late for a strong 30.91 victory. Tim also had a training double with He’s On Fire rocketing out of the boxes, on the way to his fast 22.57 win over the 400m trip.
After the two 531m heats, it was time for the short course specialists with the 400m heats. First up was the North side and it was an excellent race, with Toby West
reaffirming his quality, toppling the favourite in Velocity Tahnie.
Toby West jumped better than usual from box two and found himself in a close second early and looking very ominous. Down the back, he railed through to the lead, before running away for a comprehensive 22.59 victory and stamping himself as the series favourite.
Hot Sky for Tony Rasmussen took out the South heat with a smart win from box eight. She was only fair to go, but with some jamming below, she was able to work around them and zoom to the lead early. Once in front, she travelled sweetly and was never in any danger, winning in 22.84.
Victa Kerle later won for the Rasmussen team over the 531m distance, giving Tony a double for the night. She didn’t lead as she was expected to, but showed her strength and class, working her way to the lead before winning in 30.86.
Away from the North v South series, it was fantastic to see the training duo of Tim Ieraci and Liz Harley pick up a double for the night, with two excellent winners.
Elegant Rosie was first and she continued her terrific progression, with a dominant victory over the 400m trip. From box two, she stepped quickly and found the lead, which isn’t something that she is generally known for. Out in front, she was travelling beautifully and maintained a healthy margin the whole way around, winning in 22.80.
Zipping Campbell then won the next race, with a gritty effort from box four over the short trip. He stepped well and got to the early lead but was outpaced down the back. After finding himself three lengths off the leader in Tuivasa, Zipping Campbell fought back, before getting up just in time to win by half a length in 22.91.
The North v South Series will now move to Murray Bridge next Sunday for round two before returning to Gawler for the final on Sunday July 30.