by Chris Barsby
Enter Sandman.
Leading reinsman Adam Sanderson landed back to back victories in the Gr.3 $30,000 Moreton Bay Regional Council Redcliffe Gold Cup following a polished display behind in-form pacer Kept Under Wraps.
It was a stable quinella for Vicki Rasmussen with Kept Under Wraps running down stablemate Glenferrie Hood while veteran pacer Hokonui Ben continued his form surge making good ground to grab third in the 2613m stand start feature.
Sanderson won the Cup last year behind the Darrel Graham trained Five Card Draw.
Stepping quickly and landing the lead, the Bettors Delight gelding then copped early pressure from Glenferrie Hood who began brilliantly from his 10m handicap and eventually took the trail.
Glenferrie Hood and driver Shane Graham kept rolling a genuine speed throughout which negated any mid-race moves.
The lead time was covered in 77.8 seconds.
Race favourite Hughie Green was badly trapped on away on the marker line and raced roughly at various points while never threatening and finishing at the rear.
Glenferrie Hood went through the first half of the final mile in even splits of 30 and 30 seconds while Watch Pulp Fiction sat without cover and Kept Under Wraps locked away on the leaders back.
Entering the back straight on the final occasion, Graham forced the pressure with Glenferrie Hood and Watch Pulp Fiction retreated quickly while Only The Brave, Alleluia and Joys A Babe staged sweeping moves.
In the straight, Kept Under Wraps was able to collar Glenferrie Hood by a half neck margin while Hokonui Ben was a further 2m away in third.
The final half was timed in 28.5 and 29 seconds.
The mile rate was 2:00.3.
“We ended up with a perfect trip and the speed was genuine all the way which suited, he finished off really well in the straight.” Sanderson said.
In the $20,000 Hustler Redcliffe Oaks, race favourite Eleniark led all the way defeating Jossie James and Bonnie Jujon.
Leading from her inside draw, the Somebeachsomewhere filly fought strongly in the home straight after racing keenly mid-race to beat Jossie James by a half neck margin in a time of 1:58.2 for the 2040m feature fillies event.
Eleniark is trained and driven by leading horseman Grant Dixon.
Next week, feature racing heads to Albion Park with the running of the Listed $25,000 Lucky Creed Open Pace.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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