Zipping Highland Sets Track Alight in Middle Distance Debut
Wednesday
On a fine Wednesday afternoon, we saw some very fast times set by multiple chasers, with the track in good condition.
Tim Richards picked up two winners, with the Meningie-based trainer enjoying a worthwhile drive down. She’s Driven was the first winner with the now three-year-old using her early speed to avoid trouble for the 400m event. It was a hot go early but She’s Driven had gotten herself a length ahead as they entered the back straight, which proved telling in the end with the brindle bitch unable to be caught after that, winning in 23.01. Spinning Pixie then won two races later over the 531m trip, when she produced a strong performance to turn over the hot favourite in Spring Flute. From box four, Spinning Pixie came out really well and got herself to the lead. She travelled sweetly in front and was just too good in the end, winning unchallenged in 30.86.
It has been a good training effort from Bosko Stamenkovic to get Beautiful Light to return in the form that she has, with the black bitch returning to the winners' list for the first time since September 2021. Having her third run since the long break, she showed great pace on Wednesday to find an easy lead from box four over the 400m trip. It was pretty effortless for her, as she flew along in front and won by a space, stopping the clock at 22.59, which is quite quick. Fair to say she has come back well!
Cynogriffon has returned in brilliant form for Vadim Roz, with the black dog making it two wins in a row since returning from a four-month spell. He had box four on Wednesday over the short trip, following a good win up the straight week prior. After leaving the boxes evenly, he settled a couple of lengths off the leader and set his sights on running it down. With a big burst of power down the back, he took over before the turn and essentially had the race put away. He strolled home after that for a super 4-length win in a sharp 22.64.
Sunday
Zipping Highland started the Sunday card with a bang when the brindle dog stepped up to the 643m trip for the first time. Starting an unbackable favourite from box five, he wasn’t the quickest to leave the boxes, but it didn’t take him long to rev through the gears, taking over as they went past the winning post for the first time. Once in front, it was a complete space job, as he strolled away for an enormous 12-length win in a flying 37.37. That’s a serious time and no doubt he will be winning plenty over the middle distance in the future.
Bosko Stamenkovic picked up two winners for the night which continued the good run his kennel is having at the moment. Hit The Drums (Fernando Bale x Boojerama) broke his maiden after some consistent runs previously, using box one to perfection for the 400m maiden. When the boxes opened, the white and black dog left cleanly and found himself in front by a couple of lengths up the back. Whilst he has been run down in previous starts, that didn’t look like happening this week as he led the whole way and won comfortably in 23.09. Emerley Cougar made it two for the night when he proved a bit too speedy from box five. He left the boxes quickly and led, before going on to win by 5 lengths in a handy 22.90. A good night out for Bosko!
Springview Force was at his electrifying best on Sunday, taking out the last race of the night over the 400m trip. In what was a handy grade 6 field, he wasn’t the best to leave the boxes and was a few lengths off the leaders early. Up the back straight he started to get through his gears and make ground on the front runners, before looming as a threat as they approached the turn. With the momentum up, he went straight on past and took the lead before putting the race away in the home straight. He won in a quick 22.80 to cap off a good night of racing.