Courtesy of thedogs.com.au

16/01/11




Anthony Azzopardi’s decision to step star chaser Seek And Destroy up to the 720 metres has paid immediate dividends, with a determined victory in Saturday night’s Group One Hotham Body Repairs Association Cup Final at Wentworth Park.

In a comprehensive front-running display, the ex-Victorian trained galloper ran sections of 16.56s and 25.55s before posting 43 seconds neat to scoop the $50,000 winner’s cheque.

By Surf Lorian out of Miss Hanify, Seek And Destroy, owned by Terry Allen, is a deserved Group One victor as he’s raced the highest echelon of chasers over the past 12 to 18 months.

It was a marvellous training performance by Azzopardi to get his charge to taste Group One glory, with his heat run behind Dashing Corsair putting the writing on the wall for a strong performance in the final.

The victory made it two Association Cups in three years for Azzopardi, who of course took out the 2009 race with his star bitch Lilley Criminal.

The hype around the race all week centred around Queensland champion Dashing Corsair, and the lengths his connections had to go to just to be at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.

Unfortunately for Dwyer and Desley Lennon, their raging hot favourite missed the kick from his inside draw, but chased tenaciously throughout to finish second in another honourable display.

He lost no admirers with his gallant second and it looks as though a Group One win is just around the corner.

Hanify’s Belle, a litter sister to Seek And Destroy, finished third 1½ lengths away for Majella Ferguson, continuing her run of good form.

It’s very likely we’ll see both the winner and runner-up face off again soon, with both targeting the rich Galaxy at Cannington over the 715m.

Away from the final it was an action packed night’s chasing with Owen Langley getting another double in town with Shady’s Lesson and Redfern Fever successful again.

In what seems to be coming a regular occurrence, Shady’s Lesson posted 30.42s to win with Redfern Fever leading all-the-way in a nippy 30.15s.

In the opening leg of the quadrella, Frank Hurst’s Ringo’s Colt stamped himself as a stayer with potential, reeling off a 7½ length victory in 42.81s.

High Ball finished second with Miss Bossy Boots winding up in third.
Windsor Bale kept his hot form going in the ninth event, crossing from box seven to win in 30.44s.

The Bulli Gold Plate finalist has really taken to Wentworth Park with Saturday’s effort from box seven his best yet.

The night was closed off with an impressive effort by Winsome Shiraz, trained by John and Minnie Finn.

The regally bred daughter of Bombastic Shiraz and Winsome Silver looks promising and is well worth keeping an eye on in the following weeks.