TALENTED sprinter Gracie secured her berth in the Vets Medley Series final with an emphatic win in her heat over the sprint distance of 461 metres at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart last night.
Gracie earned maximum points in the opening round heat of the series over 599 metres when victorious over Hellyeah Trish.
But her win over the shorter trip was more impressive scoring by almost 11 lengths from Hellyeah Trish with Bub’s Chance over a length away third.
Gracie was heavily backed to be sent around the $1.70 favourite and gave her backers no cause for alarm at any stage of the race.
The Karlene Cuthbertson and Sally-Ann Wilson owned bitch is prepared at MountDirection by Donna Goodluck who is proving to be a very talented trainer.
Sunset Solo was a shock winner of his heat but it was not enough to secure a berth in the final.
The daughter of Knocka Norris-Em’s Solo led from box one and was never headed but her win to earn the maximum 11 points was not enough to get her into th4e final as she finished last in an opening round heat that scored here zero points,
Only the top eight point scorers from the two rounds of heats made it into the final.
While Sunset Solo missed a final’s berth, her litter brother, also trained by Rod Callinan had no trouble making it into the final.
Regal Solo was the only other Medley contender to win both heats.
Regal Solo gave his rivals a galloping lesson in a first round heat over 599 metres and he was as equally impressive over the 461 metre trip.
In this latest heat he began brilliantly from box eight and gave nothing else a chance in the run to the line.
He scored by almost two lengths from Pat Pines with Hellyeah Sam a distant third.
Buckle Up Chalky finished third in his opening round heat but made sure if a final berth with an emphatic heat win over 461 metres.
Buckle Up Chalky has been a model of consistency for trainer Kevin Cocks and it would a deserving if this underrated son of Where’s Pedro saluted in the Medley final.
Happy Tiger is an improving type and the Brendan Pursell-trained dog will be better suited in the final over the 599-metre trip.
Happy Tiger was impressive in winning his opening round heat over 599 metres but he suffered multiple checks in this recent heat over 461m and did a good job to finish fourth and sneak into the final with 15 points.
Happy Tiger (Mogambo-Jacinta Bale) has won three of his only six starts in Tasmania and warrants plenty of respect in the final.
Heallyeah Trish ran second to Gracie in their opening round heat but the Anthony Bullock-trained bitch made amends with a convincing win over Big Poppy Barry and Lashing Jill last Thursday night.
She is one of the most experienced chasers in the series having had 79 starts for 11 wins and 17 minor placings.
Terror Time made her way into the final with seconds in both heats.
The Rodney Walker-trained bitch placed second to Happy Tiger, beaten a quarter of a length, in the first heat over 599m and last week she ran second to Sunset Solo and was taking ground off the winner at the business end of the race.
Ruby May gave Bullock his second runner in then final after she ran home well to finish third in her heat on Thursday night.
Roby May won her heat over 599m and recorded good time and she must also warrant respect in the final.