20 May 2019 | Shane Yates for Tasracing
The Rodney Ashwood-trained three-year-old filly Spoilt Sport threw her hat firmly into the ring for the up-coming Bandbox Series with a dynamic win over the previously unbeaten Sunny Sanz in Hobart on Sunday night.
Spoilt Sport (pictured) was beaten by Sunny Sanz in Launceston a week earlier but turned the tables with a 16.9-metre victory, breaking Scooterwillrev’s 2017 three-year-old age track-record for the mile in Hobart clocking 1:56.6 seconds.
“I’m totally rapt in her run, she has good gate-speed and Ricky (Duggan) just allowed her to roll to the front from the mobile heading off Sutter Star in the run to the first turn,” said Rodney.
“Sunny Sanz got a nice run through the field from the second line and made a sharp move three-wide for a 100 metres to sit outside us at the bell and you could feel the race was going to be well and truly on.”
The gun pair put the peddle to the floor going down the back with a 28.1 third quarter to set up an expected titanic battle to the post.
“Spoilt Sport stripped fitter after her second to Sunny Sanz last week and this time she was ready for him and dug in for the fight, coming to the home turn I thought she looked to be going the better as Rick hadn’t moved on her but you can never underestimate a horse like Sunny Sanz,” said Ashwood.
“Turning for home Spoilt Sport kicked it up a gear and set sail for the judge, opening up an ever-increasing lead and going on to topple Scooterwillrev’s aged record which gives us a confident feeling heading into the $50.000 Bandbox Series in early June, we’ve also got Still Hungover at home poised to have a crack at the feature so it’s a good feeling to know you have two-strings to the bow going into such a lucrative Tasbred Series.”
Rod completed a winning double on the card when Redason cruised home in the Aldebaran Park Trot while Sam Rawnsley continued his winning run with six-year-old gelding I Wanna Rock.
Izaha and Resurgent Storm enhanced their career records with decisive victories and Ben Yole continued his run with long-priced winners with another treble courtesy of Artiflash, Im Full Tilt and Monarkmac.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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