ONE proven star and a rising star progressed to next week’s Easter Cup final at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart with impressive wins in their respective heats last night.
Hellyeah Bolt, long regarded as one of the state’s best printers, proved he is getting back to best form with a brilliant effort to score by about six lengths.
The Anthony Bullock-trained dog began fairly from box seven to settle fourth behind a trio that vied for the lead heading to the tip turn.
That Was Then held the rails while Explosive Gas raced wide with Bit Hot Finchy splitting that pair as they headed into the home turn.
But Hellyeah Bolt was stalking them and when he barged through a gap at the top of the home straight the race was over.
Hellyeah Bolt careered away from his rivals and went on to defeat That Was Then by about six lengths with get It Right flashing home from well back to grab third ahead of Bit Hot Finchy.
Hellyeah Bolt ran the 461m trip in 26.17 which was well outside his personal best (25.75) on the track but a good effort given where he was in the run.
But Star Chamber showed enough to suggest he could have Bolt’s measure in the final.
The Ted Medhurst-trained dog began only fairly from box one but mustered speed quickly to share the lead with Smichols heading to the top turn.
But Star Chamber extended his lead with every bound over the final 80 metres to go on and score by about eight lengths from Smichols with Bain’s Lane and Direct Current dead-heating for third.
Star Chamber recorded a slick 25.93 which was his best effort on the Hobart track.
Star Chamber’s record is impressive having now won 11 of his 32 starts with 12 minor placings.
However he has a way to go to emulate Hellyeah Bolt’s statistics of 24 win and 13 minor placings from 46 starts in Tasmania.