Hasty Bid too good in the Final
The sensational successful run of owner Lachie Cormack, trainer David Harding and drive Danielle Hill continued at Globe Derby Park on Saturday.
Hasty Bid won the $25,000 4YO & 5YO Classic, then in-form Bellezza Nera made it six straight wins, and a total of eight victories from his last nine starts.
A recent purchase from Queensland, Hasty Bid, at just his second start for his new connections, more than paid for himself with the $15,648 first prize on Saturday.
Backed from $2.50 into $1.90 favourite, the five-year-old took full advantage of barrier one to lead throughout in the Classic (2230m) for a two-metre win from Hezrockinroyalty ($4.40) with Delightfull Tammy ($7.50), four metres away third.
Danielle Hill admitted she was a little surprised there had not been more pressure in the event.
“Normally in the richer races, the tempo is on throughout,” Hill said.
“Tonight, I was able to rate my horse as I wanted, and he outsprinted them.”
Hasty Bid was able to push through from gate one and easily withstand an early attempt from Clarenden Tribute to find the front with a slow 47.7 second lead time.
Hill then recorded a moderate 60.1 second first half of the last 1600 metre coming home in 57.4 seconds.
Driver Lisa Ryan brought Delightfull Tammy around the field with just more than a lap to go and tried to use her staying prowess, but after the slow first half couldn’t sprint with the winner.
Hezrockinroyalty was an outstanding second coming wide over the final 600 metres taking a lot of ground off the winner but ran out of ground to claim a win.
Trainer David Harding said owner Lachie Cormack was in the United States and had missed the win.
“I think he is due back next week but is aware of what has been happening,” Harding said.
“Bellezza Nera is Lachie’s first involvement in harness ownership and with the good early success asked me to find him another horse.
“I had been watching Hasty Bid racing in Queensland and liked him so when he came up for sale I made a successful bid.
“When you draw gate one, you have to use it and he has led in his two runs for us, but I believe he will be even better coming from a sit.
“I thought he ran really well in the heat getting beaten in 1:58.4, and tonight he was able to win in 1:59.2.”
Then, in the final event of the night, the Ladbrokes Quick Multi Pace (1800m), Bellezza Nera ($1.25 fav), sat parked but drew clear to win his sixth straight race by a half neck from Artillery ($17) with Lord Zarias ($17), three metres away third.
Most expected the seven-year-old to lead but Luke Alcorn on the $41 chance Lynryd Skynryd kicked through from gate one to hold the inside. He was found wanting up the home straight but battled on well to finish fourth, beaten 5-1/2 metres.
Bellezza Nera has now won 10 races since arriving in SA early in the year with one of his victories being the $25,000 Adelaide Pacing Cup.
Wayne Hill, the current leading SA reinsman, chalked up a treble.
His first win was an all-the-way win on ex-New Zealander Dreamalittledream for trainer Peter Bain in the Ladbrokes Blackbook Pace (1800m).
The five-year-old mare, the $1.95 favourite, began brilliantly from gate four to find the front and won by 6-1/2 metres from Night Spirit ($5) with Shirley Not ($8), a short half head away third.
‘Grandstand’ drivers were full of praise for Wayne Hill for his winning drive on Coco Mia in the Raging Bull NZ @ Lauren Eggins Veterinary Services (1800m).
But Hill said it had been a shocker and apologized to owner-breeder Tara-Shae Linke, and trainer Tyson Linke.
After travelling one-out, one-back, Hill took Coco Mia ($2.60) to the inside and urged the six-year-old mare along the sprint lane to grab a half head win from Sunstar ($1.95 fav) with Euro Beat ($4.80), 1-1/2 metres away third.
“If I had stayed in the running line and come wide she would have won easier,” Hill said.
“She didn’t appreciate going down to the inside and took a lot of driving to get home.
“If I came wide, I’m sure Coco Mia would have sprinted strongly and won nicely.”
Trainer Tyson Linke said Coco Mia had never used the sprint lane in her 30-start career.
“When Wayne opted to go inside I wondered how she would handle it,” Linke said.
“She took some driving, but we got the right result.”
Linke said the win lifted her rating again which made it hard to place Coco Mia.
“She has to either take on the open class pacers or come from back row draws if we go for a slightly easier race.
“Perhaps, we could run her in the upcoming Cup races, drive with a sit and see how she sprints home.
“We have decided not to retire her and breed but will give her another year of racing.”
Hill’s treble came up with an all-the-way win on Line Up Jackie for trainer Tayla Warren in the SA Cups Night October 25 Pace (1800m).
Line Up Jackie ($1.70 fav) made it four wins in a row scoring by a head from Trigger ($8) with Giftedfromtheheart ($61) a half neck away third.
- Story Graham Fischer
- Photo Walter Bulyga