The Keightley Kennel have not changed their minds about Roxholme Magic’s incompatibility with Towcester but think her exceptional ability may be enough to land the Colussus Bets TV Trophy on Wednesday November 29.
Assistant trainer Mark Keightley said: “I was not at the heats, but Hayley reckons it was just her sheer class that saw her through.
“She doesn’t like the short straights, but she had enough about her to win her heat.
“There don’t appear to be any issues following the race and we look forward to the final.
The first heat saw Shellam Delano crack away from Millroad Smokey (Droopys Cain-Milload Mac, Jun 15) who soon lost second place as the leader pulled away from Diesel Pixie. The leader crossed the 480m sectional in a brilliant 27.99 (FOY 27.98) almost nine lengths clear of the following pair.
Smokey, who had been almost bumped out of third place after around 300 metres, moved into second place going into the final circuit and gradually started to claw back the deficit. She then eased her stride along the backstraight (see pic), anticipating the hare hare to be stopped, but soon rallied. She was still five/six lengths adrift coming into the last two bends.
But Delano was really struggling in the last 50 metres and Stuart Buckland’s Monmore S1 runner got up on the line for a thoroughly merited victory in 55.91.
Slick Strauss took the early lead in the second qualifier though Swift Mask went clear on the back straight of the first circuit with Goldies Hotspur (Aero Majestic-Slick Sapphine, Jan 15) back in third. Mask led for a full circuit before Goldies Hotspur took up the running.
But going into the last two bend, Clares Kyletaun surged to the front and was a length clear off the last bend. Off the last bend though, Hotspur rallied and there was nothing between the pair as they crossed the line with head separating them.
GOLDIES HOTSPUR (t5) gets the better of partly hidden Clares Kyletaun (t6) in a close finish to TV Trophy heat 2.
Photo: © Steve Nash
Incredible Flyer was the first to show in the final qualifier and led to the third bend where Ruby Rascal moved through on the inside. The favourite Roxholme Magic (Definate Opinion-Sizzling Sarah, Dec 12) was in last place. The leader continued to dominate with Shreyas Solair in second going into the last two bends. But the leader was still four clear of Magic at the last bend (see pic) struggling desperately and as they hit the last 50 metres, he was barely trotting as the favourite surged clear to win by just over two lengths in 55.57.
Roxholme Magic (t6) sits quietly at the back as Incredible Flyer (t3) makes the early running from Rubys Rascal (t2) and Inch Forward (t5) in the TV Trophy heats. Photo: © Steve Nash
Draw for the final: 1 Millroad Smokey, 2 Rubys Rascal, 3 Clares Kyletaun (M) 4 Shellam Dellano (M) 5 Goldies Hotspur (M) 6 Roxholme Magic (W)
