ILLINGWORTH Classic winner Emerald Lee is on target to win another feature race after she emerged triumphant in a heat of the Laurels at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart last night (Thursday).
Emerald Lee (Paddy’s Flame-Inbetween Days) made the most of the inside alley to share the lead to the top turn but she was pressured by Gracie that also showed good speed from box eight to cross down to be outside the lead at the top turn.
Gracie (Where’s Pedro-Smart And Sassy) applied the pressure on straightening but Emerald Lee showed her strength and class by moving clear overt the concluding stages.
She went on to defeat Gracie by over a length with the runner-up’s kennel mate and litter sibling Millie Minor a distant third.
Lili flashed home from well back to grab fourth and clinch a berth in the final, just ahead of Shanlyn Flossy.
Emerald Lee was coming off a second at Wentworth Park a week earlier in a grade five event over 520 metres.
Improving bitch Carolina showed her liking for the Hobart circuit with a very impressive win in her Laurels heat.
The Julie Bannon-trained bitch began brilliantly fro box seven and had the rail and the field behind her halfway to the top turn.
The Paddy’s Flame-Cash Box bitch sped clear and gave nothing else a chance.
She hit the line over two lengths clear of Miss Hetti that edged out Molly’s Legacy and Lashing Jill with all the minor placegetters crossing the line in a bunch.
Carolina scampered over the 461 metres in a handy 26.37 which was a personal best.
Bannon said Carolina was stating to show her best and expects her to keep improving.
“She is still a pup but she has done a wonderful job so far and there is probably more wins to come,” Bannon said.
“That’s three in a row here in Hobart so she obviously likes the U-turn track but she is just as good on the circle at Launceston.”
“She has no vices and she is improving her times as well so the future looks bright for this bitch,” she said/.
Carolina, whelped in November 2010, has had only 14 starts for five wins and three minor placings.
The first four placegetters in each of the two Laurels heats progressed to this week’s final.