BELL OF MOSS is likely to start a warm favourite to win next week’s Illingworth Classic final following her impressive heat win at The TOTE Racing Centre in Launceston last night (Monday).
The Rod Walker-trained bitch began brilliantly from box eight to have the lead at the winning post the first time and she stretched her margin at every turn to go on and comfortably defeat the heavily backed favourite Yappin jack with Fulande a close-up third.
She is unbeaten from three starts on the Launceston track and is a recent winner of the LGRC Breeders Classic final. She won her heat last night in a time of 29.83 for the 515-metre journey was the best of the four heat winners.
Bell Oh Moss has had eight starts for four wins and a minor placing.
Gracie proved she is worthy of a berth in next Monday night’s final with an all-the-way win in her heat starting from box one.
The Donna Goodluck-trained bitch has been in great form of late and owner Karlene Cuthbertson produced a master stroke by sending t7he troubled bitch to Goodluck as she has managed to instil renewed confidence into the daughter of Where’s Pedro-Smart And Sassy.
Gracie stopped the clock at 29.98 with splits of 5.06 and 17.72 which compared favourably with Bell Oh Moss that had splits of 4.98 and 17.55.
Willy Wag Tail was another al-the-way heat winner and provided he draws well in the final he will be competitive because of his good box manners.
The Peter Dalton-owned and trained dog made full use of box two and had the race in his keeping when he held a four-length break heading down the back stretch.
Quick Advance, from the Robert Grubb kennel, recovered from an early check to chase home hard to finish a closing second and warrant a place in the final.
Director gave Cuthbertson and her co-owned Sally Wilson two finalists when he led all the way to defeat Tic Tac Thomas that also gave Dalton two finalists.
The first two home in each heat qualified for berths in the rich final.
Director (Cosmic Rumble-Icy Popsicle) is prepared at MountDirection by Laurence Mulligan and while he started at big odds ($26) and put most punters out of the quadrella, it was a welcome return to form for the well-bred dog.
However Director will need to produce much better time if he is to win the final as he was the slowest heat winner clocking 30.38 with splits of 5.06 and 17.82.
The final will be run in Launceston next Monday night.