NZ HARNESS NEWS
Top Kiwi driver Dexter Dunn will guide brilliant semifinal winner Our Bettor Joy in the $NZ308,000 Breeders Crown two-year-old fillies final at Melton in Victoria on Sunday.
Dunn is fresh from a fourth placing overall when defending his title at the World Drivers Championship in Canada and will relish piloting the exciting Cran Dalgety-trained daughter of Bettor’s Delight, from the plum two draw, in the Group One final (2240m mobile).
She was excellent winning her semifinal at Bendigo on Saturday night, clocking 2:34.7 for the mobile 2150m, the last 800m in 55.9s, with a mile rate of 1:55.8.
“(Our) Bettor Joy has been to the mountain, has come down, and is back up there again,’’ Dalgety said on Monday.
“She hardly had a blow after winning on Saturday. She’s got a good turn of foot and a good draw for the final, whereas apart from (Our) Angel Of Harlem (three), most of her main rivals have drawn badly, so we’re in there with a good chance.”
Our Bettor Joy moved up from last for Aussie veteran catch driver Gavin Lang in the three-wide train and flew home to nudge out star Aussie filly Nostra Villa by a head, with the Barry Ward-trained Kiwi filly Our Angel of Harlem a close–up third after leading for driver Anthony Butt.
Lang said Dalgety’s Canterbury-trained visitor was up to the task in the final.
“To get over a filly (Nostra Villa) that’s won seven from seven is no mean feat,” Lang said.
“Cran’s been here before, had a lot of success here and knows what it takes. I wouldn’t discount her chances.”
Lang will drive former Kiwi trainer Nicole Molander’s Passions Delight from the ace draw in the final after her close second behind Red Charmer (four) in the second fillies’ semifinal.
Queensland’s Red Charmer stunned punters when coming from last to storm home and win at $71.
The well-fancied My Sweetchilliphilly (10), Nostra Beach (12) and Molly Kelly (11) all qualified for the final amid a wall of competitors hitting the line, only to have their chances hindered at the barrier draw, while Nostra Villa drew 13.
Meanwhile, the $308,000 two-year-old pacing males final shapes as a cracker, with Kiwi-trained semifinal winners Sicario (2:33.6) and King Of Swing (2:33.8) being joined by Aussie stars Poster Boy, who was game in defeat behind the Mark Purdon-trained Sicario, and Colt Thirty
One, who made up many lengths for second to King Of Swing.
King Of Swing has drawn the coveted one slot in the final, with Colt Thirty One in six, Poster Boy nine, Sicario 10 and Dalgety’s talented Master Moonlite going from 11 for Dunn.
King Of Swing should get a sweet trip for Auckland trainer Ray Green and Cambridge driver David Butcher.
“He’s improving with every run and I can’t fault the run,” Butcher said after his super-tough effort on Saturday.
Dalgety was happy with Master Moonlite’s game third in the same race.
“He’s only had five starts and that’s the quickest he’s run.
‘’The run ringed him out a bit, but he had a good blow afterwards and he’s bounced back good from it. I would think he’ll be a little bit sharper for this week, which he’ll need to be.’’
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