Intrepid Bale dominated the Mckenna Memorial heats (595 metres) at Sandown Park with a monster run from back in the field to win in Best Of The Night time (34.10).
Trained by Sam Grenfell, Intrepid Bale was the punters fancy heading into the race, but as the lids opened and Fernando Duke camped out in front, you would be forgiven for thinking it was race over.
Intrepid Bale took control of the race at the 500 metre boxes. Kayla Cottrell’s Fernando Duke would have won any of the other heats on time, stopping the clock in 34.16 seconds.
Intrepid Bale (1) wins the opening McKenna Memorial heat over Fernando Duke (4).
Bebop Jaz was the third fastest qualifier for the Group 2 McKenna Memorial with a classy all the way win for trainer Peter Presutto.
Bebop Jaz (4) wins heat four of the McKenna Memorial over Paw Yasmin (2).
Presutto had a night to remember, with his kennel star Without A Trace, also picking up a heat win. The stunning white female out of Houdini Boy and My Reflection, worked the outside of the track throughout. But really put her foot down as the field pasted the 595 metre boxes for the second time.
Without A Trace was the fourth fastest qualifier, stopping the clock in a time of 34.31seconds.
Without A Trace (7) wins heat three of the McKenna Memorial over Urana Cobalt (6).
Team Dailly qualified three runners and the first reserve for the McKenna Memorial, with the standout for me being Vista Weird who found himself up against the return of Canya All Class who was off the back of a mouth-watering sub 29 second trial at Sandown in the lead up.
Vista Weird put in a performance to remember after giving Canya All Class the bump of his life as they worked through the first turn, and both found themselves in the back of the field.
Vista Weird worked the outside of the field with ease, running over the top of leaders Paw Imperial and Mickayla Swift to win by a length in a time of 34.60 seconds.
Vista Weird (6) wins heat two of the McKenna Memorial over Mickayla Swift (3).
Group 2 $55,000 McKenna Memorial (595 metres)
1 | Bebop Jazz, Peter Presutto
2 | Without A Trace, Peter Presutto
3 | Sunset Wisp, Tom Dailly
4 | Urana Cobalt, Tom Dailly
5 | Vista Weird, Tom Dailly
6 | Fernando Duke, Kayla Cottrell
7 | Intrepid Bale, Sam Grenfell
8 | Paw Yasmin, Mark Delbridge
Reserves
9 | Paw Barton, Tom Dailly
10 | Mickayla Swift, Kayla Cottrell
The Group 2 McKenna Memorial will be run on Thursday night at Sandown Park.
