Time is running out for those wanting to qualify for the first ever $30,000 Canterbury Plains Series Final at Addington on Friday, May 17.
The 10th and final heat will be held at Ashburton on Sunday.
The latest horse to automatically qualify for the final was Santanna Mach, who came from near last at the 400 to win the ninth heat at Addington last night.
On a cold and rainy night Santanna Mach was five back the fence before Wilson House navigated his way through traffic and then stormed down the outside to just nab Fernz Goldy on the line.
It was the 10-year-old’s 18th win in 182 starts, dating back to 2017, and his third race in just eight days.
“He cops the racing really well and I suppose after 180 starts they tend to,” says House, “he’s hardly been out of the money, or the first five at least, in his six or seven starts.”
Santanna Mach is the third Michael House-trained runner to make the final, following on from Courage Reactor and Amelia Rose.
A fourth House runner, Wriggles Rufus, also looks a certainty to make the 14-strong final. He’s currently 10th on the leaderboard with 23 points.
The others to have automatically qualified are Ned Kelly, Krystal Delight, Foveaux Gambler, Itz Magical Meg, Ideal Chevron and Ebury Street.
All heat winners automatically qualify for the final, as long as they have had a minimum of two totalisator race starts during the qualification period, April 11 – May 12.
The series is for 5YO and older pacers rated R35 to R39, with each heat worth $12,500 and run as Preferential Barrier Draw based on earnings in the last five starts.
Points are won as follows :
Second Place – 7 points
Third – 5 points
Fourth – 3 points
Fifth – 2 points
All other starters 1 point.
For those horses further down the points table who are eyeing a start in the Series Consolation Final next Sunday at Rangiora (May 19), a Nomination must be made for the Final, with the team at Addington Raceway.
To see the latest standings click here
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