3yos Semi Review

June 26th, 2008

New South Wales showcased some of its best three-year-olds for the season in the Sires' Steaks semi finals at Harold Park last Friday night.

The first leg of the quartet of heats, a colts and geldings division, was taken out by NSW Derby winner Beach Fighter.

The son of Jennas Beach Boy teamed up with Bathurst reinsman Steve Turnbull for the $15,000 event.

Turnbull declared the colt has improved yet again since his previous outing 10 days earlier.

"He felt really good tonight, I didn't even have to pull out the ear-plugs," Turnbull said.

"The horse was a lot more relaxed than the last time I drove him and this run tonight will just top him off for the final."

After beginning from the outside of the second line, Turnbull moved his charge around the field following a slow lead-time.

With the first half only covered in 65.0 seconds(33.0, 32.0), Beach Fighter edged closer to the leader (Snazzy Shannon) with a 29.9 second third quarter, before coming home in a blistering 27.8 seconds.

Crossing the line untroubled, the colt spaced his rivals by four-and-a-half metres in a mile rate of 2:02.4.

The John Tapp-trained Rigatoni, which enjoyed the trail behind the leader, finished second with Snazzy Shannon holding third.

Jenna Rate and Simpson Memorial winner Mark Joseph also qualified for the final.

In an upset win, Decndice proved too strong in the second semi-final for the colts and geldings.

Driven by one of the State's leading reinsmen, Greg Bennett, the pair settled on the pegs after starting from barrier eight.

The $1.50 favourite Esprit De Kayjay led from the pole and dictated terms in quarters of 31.5, 30.6, 29.6 and 29.3 seconds.

On the home turn Life's A Dream fell, although Bennett was able to steer away from the drama. In the straight the leader's condition faded and Decndice sprinted sharply to score by three metres.

Esprit De Kayjay finished second and after toughing it out in the 'death' seat, Standelle held third place. Irish Rip and Beetee Bromac also qualified for the $100,000 final.

The mile rate was 2:00.4, exactly two seconds faster than the other colts and geldings semi-final.

Decndice is the first horse for owner Norm Johnson to win any Sires' Stakes race, let alone make it to the lucrative final.

"The horse picked the right Sires' Stakes to win," Johnson, President of Leeton Harness Racing Club joked.

"I would have been happy if we finished anywhere in the top three tonight but he ended up winning!

"He has been racing consistently and Jim and Greg (Bennett) have done a fantastic job with him."

Another one of the qualifiers that will give connections their first finalist in a Sires' Final is Shes Makin Waves.

The Newcastle Oaks winner led all-the-way from barrier seven, taking out one of the three-year-old fillies' semi-finals.

Owner, trainer and driver Chris Rose let the daughter of Jennas Beach Boy roll along in front at her own leisure, posting the quarters in 33.0, 31.8, 30.2 and a fast 28.5 seconds in light rain.

With none of her rivals challenging her, Shes Makin Waves recorded an easy three-and-a-half metre win from Burning Stature, with Bara Ingrid finishing an eye-catching third almost 14 metres away fourth.

"She has good gate speed and even though we drew wide I had to use it," Rose said.

"I wanted to get to the lead so we could keep out of trouble and I was very happy with the way she felt tonight.

"She was the first horse I've had to make it in the Oaks and she will also be the first to make it to a Sires' Stakes Final."

Clocking 2:01.1 for the 2160 metre journey, Beach Rendezvous and Cheer Me also made it through to the final.

Major sponsor, principal dealer Lexus of Parramatta Rod Smith, was given his share of a Sires' Stakes win when Lady Lexus proved too strong in the other fillies' semi-final.

The win gave Smith something to cheer about as he recently retired one of his classiest pacers, Kriden Dancer.

Starting from barrier 12, driver Gavin Fitzpatrick waited for the field to settle before issuing his challenge three-wide to take the lead.

The first half was a moderate 65.5 seconds (33.7, 31.8) but as stablemate Esther Jane loomed up to the 'death' seat, the tempo quickened and the following quarters were 30.5 and 28.0 seconds.

Lady Lexus pulled away from her competitors, scoring by four metres from All In Baby and Esther Jane close behind third.

"She felt good tonight," Fitzpatrick stated.

"Up the back they sprinted up to her quickly and it took her a bit to wind up.

"She is still very green, but the run will do her the world of good for Menangle on Sunday."

The mile rate was 2:03.8 for the 2160 meter journey which was almost three seconds slower than the other fillies' semi-final.

Quicksilver Candy and Shez Serene made it to the final also.