IN-FORM bitch Lillycette moved a step closer to her main target when she scored an impressive win in ka heat of the Group 2 Launceston Cup at he TOTE Racing Centre on Monday night.
Lillycette showed her customary early speed to find the front from box two and despite having to deal with being pestered by Raz Simpson to the home turn she slipped into overdrive over the final stanza and went on to win easily from Underclass Hero and Warehouse Mouse with Raz Simpson hanging on for fourth.
The Ted Medhurst-trained bitch has been in great form of late in her home stare and she also was competitive in a couple of races at The Meadows where she was placed twice before returning home to win an invitation in Hobart prior to tackling this latest assignment.
Lillycette stopped the clock at 29.64 which was marginally better than her previous best of 29.66 that she clocked in winning in December.
The Launceston Cup has been her mission on home soil this campaign as she has an outstanding record on the track that comprises four wins and a second from five tries.
She is only lightly raced having started 17 times for 12 wins and four minor placings.
Victorian trainer Kelly Bravo will have three semi-finalists with two from his kennel emerging triumphant in their respective heats.
Secret Spell was very impressive in leading all the way from box one to win his heat in a time of 29.59.
The son of Bartrim Bale was only fairly away but he mustered speed so quickly he gave nothing a chance to cross him.
The Allan Clark-trained Brad Hill Billy tried gamely to match it with the favourite and did a great job to finish a close-up second with Sing The Song hanging on for third ahead of What It Shrinks.
Bravo’s other winner was Ride The Rails that worked across from box eight to share the lead at the first turn and then powered away from his rivals to score comfortably from Senor Scooby that lead to the home turn with Ban’s Lane a game third ahead of Gemstone Jack.
Ride The Rails ran the 515-metre trip in a handy 29.67 with splits of 5.05 and 17.72.
Another Victorian entry One Dee from the Keilor East kennels of Shane Taylor gave a bold display to lead throughout to win his heat.
One Dee began fairly from box two while Minnie Mogul flew the lids from box four to lead but One Dee slid through along the rails at the first turn to take control and while Minnie Mogul tried valiantly to peg back the margin the Victorian was too strong.
One Dee went on to score by a half-length from Minnie Mogul with Senor Slamma a distant third ahead of Mandy Charm wit the winner recording a time of 29.92.
Breaker’s Tip has proven to be one of the most consistent sprinters in the state and it was no surprise that he raced his way into the semi-finals with an impressive heat win.
Breaker’s Tip began only fairly from box four while Nooee’s Lad showed his usual zip to lead comfortably.
But when he was checked from behind at the fist turn and lost ground Breaker’s Tip zoomed through a gap to take up the running and that was the end of the penny section.
The Gary Fahey-trained dog went on to win easily from Rebelation and Washington with Great Taylors grabbing fourth just ahead of Global Deejay.
However Breaker’s Tip recorded the slowest time of the six heat winners stopping the clock at 30.01.
Tasmania’s entrant in last year’s National Sprint Championship Dominator Girl ($4.80) made her way into the semi-finals with a brilliant display of front running to easily win her heat.
The Paul Hili-trained bitch flew the lids and led clearly from the Kelly Bravo-trained favourite Waymore’s Blues ($1.90)
The favourite had every chance to run Dominator Girl down but his efforts were in vein.
Dominator Girl defeated Waymore’s Blues by almost a length with Half Century edging out Black Sienna for third about four lengths astern.
The winner stopped the clock at 29.76.
The first four home in each of the six heats progressed to next week’s three semi-finals with the first two placegetters and the two fastest thirds from those semis to progress to the final on February 16.