OWNER-BREEDERS Karlene Cuthbertson and Sally-Ann Wilson have been major players in Tasmania for the past two years but their dominance in the Hobart club’s Breeders Classic has been almost unprecedented.
The popular breeders bred and own six of the eight finalists in the Betfair Breeders Classic to be run over 461 metres at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart next Thursday night.
Millie Minor was the most impressive of the four semi-final winners and her time of 26.17 was clearly the fastest of the four winners.
Their six finalists comprise three from each of two litters sired by Where’s Pedro and Cosmic Rumble.
The finalists from the Where’s Pedro-Smart And Sassy litter are Millie Minor, Pak And Wrap and Molly’s Legacy while No Emotion, Captain Cosmic and Director are by Cosmic Rumble from Icy Popsicle.
Mick Stringer trains all but Pak And Wrap that is prepared by Butch Deverell.
Cuthbertson was elated with the outcome.
“Both litters have produced some very nice pups and now we just have to wait and see of they can go on with it,” Cuthbertson said.
“Millie Minor showed the most of both litters from the outset and she is doing pretty much what we hoped she would.”
She equalled her best time tonight and she began well so if she does that in the final she is probably the one to beat,” she said.
Millie Minor was having only her third race start so there is bound to be improvement.
She clocked 26.17 on debut when a winner of the juvenile division of the TGOTBA series in Hobart last month but she was second to Just As Fancy in the final in which he clocked 26.31.
She missed the start that night but at this latest outing she began well and provided she retains those manners she will be the one to beat in the Breeders Classic final.
Cuthbertson was particularly pleased with Pak and Wrap’s effort to clinch a berth in the final.
“Pak and Wrap is what I’d call a slow maturer but he’s learning fast and this was a very good win,” Cuthbertson said.
“Butch is very pleased with his progress and I’d say he might be one that does his best further down the track,” she said.
Director was a surprise winner for punters who unloaded on the Ted Medhurst-trained Zorro’s Legacy that went around the $1.30 favourite while Director, that had good form, started at $6.90 and even longer in NSW where he paid $13.
Director began well from box three as did the favourite wearing the black vest.
The pair matched motors to the home turn but when The Ted Medhurst-trained Zorro’s Legacy moved alongside Director to claim the lead Stringer’s dog refused to wilt, gave the favourite a hip and shoulder and booted clear.
Director went on to defeat Zorro’s Legacy by over a length and clocked a handy 26.47 in the process.
The Rod Callinan-trained Regal Solo denied Cuthbertson and Wilson a clean sweep of the semi-finals by proving too strong for Molly’s Legacy in their semi-final.
Regal Solo showed speed from box eight to share the lead but three-wide to the top turn.
When they swung for home it was a two-dog race with Regal Solo wide on the track and Molly’s Legacy hugging the rail.
Regal Solo, that was specked at odds firming from $25 close to start time to pay $16.50, stayed wide on the track in the run to the line but proved too strong and scored by a length from Molly’s Legacy with Topline Plus over four lengths away third.