FRIDAY'S final of the Lesley Ann Memorial Handicap (400m) is set to be a bumper event after some eye-catching performances during the heats at Dawson Park yesterday.
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There were seven heats of the event yesterday and the best time of the day came in the final heat, with the David Grant-trained Blenda getting home in the time of 23.02 seconds.
Earlier in the afternoon, local trainer Denise Sparkes showed she was a chance of collecting the $3000 in prize money on Friday as her talented bitch Kurumba overcame a slow start to blitz the field and win by 10 lengths.
"She went pretty well but she didn't start well, she's a bit of a bugger on the turn starts so she'll have to improve on that for the final," Sparkes said after the win.
"She likes to get on the rail but if she jumps like that she'll bring herself undone (in the final) because against the better dogs you can't afford to do that. But she has got good pace, she's fairly strong so we'll hope that sticks with her."
After being one of the last out of the boxes Kurumba ($2.70 fav.) worked her way through the field and got to the inside as they approached the back straight.
From there she hit the lead and did not look back, extending her lead as they rounded the bend for home and leaving the rest of the field in her wake.
Honey Fusion ($12.70), trained by Wesley McDonald, and the Shannon Kirby-trained Billycan Man ($33.80) filled the minor places.
In the second heat it was an impressive win for the Stephen Cleary-trained Myalla Nitro, with the small bitch showing plenty of speed out of the box and leading from start to finish.
The race was over as soon as they reached the first bend as Myalla Nitro ($16.60) went about building a strong lead and she went on to win by five-and-a-quarter lengths from Paul Braddon's Dimitr ($8.80) while Duncan McGinness ($1.80) was a head back in third.
"Once she jumped she was always going to be in the race, she's only little and has been getting hammered from bad boxes but she's a good beginner," Cleary said.
"I was pleased with that (speed) because it's her first go over that distance but she's got to draw inside (in the final) or she's no hope, she'll get smashed around again."
Other heat winners on the day were the Ron Steel-trained Suzi Cargo, the Thomas Miller-trained Blazing Marlowe and the Kylie McDonald pair Trojan Fusion and Epic Fusion before Canowindra trainer Grant finished the day on a high with Blenda's two-length win.
