Tasman Queen dazzled her rivals with a brilliant Hawkins Media Laurels semi-final win at Sandown Park last Thursday night.By Glen Atwell
TASMAN Queen is on track to victory in the Group 1 Hawkins Media Laurels at Sandown Park tonight after a dazzling semi-final win last Thursday night.
But pre-series favourite Miss Hot Gossip remains all the rage with punters and is an odds-on favourite to take out the $50,000 first prize.
Tasman Queen jumped quickly from box seven and was never headed as she led all the way to win in 29.73 seconds.
In the following semi-final, Miss Hot Gossip did nothing to upset her fans, winning her race in a slick 29.80 seconds.
Despite beginning only fairly, the $1.40 favourite proved far too good, using box eight to full advantage to circle the field and score by 4.25 lengths.
Miss Hot Gossip has drawn the coveted box one for tonight’s final, ensuring that she will start a clear favourite for next week’s final.
In the third semi-final, outsider Que Sera Sera ($21.90) took up the front running and led the field into the straight, but was nabbed by Cool Rose ($2.90) on the line in 30.14.
Paddy’s Meika gave master trainer Peter Giles his only runner in the Hawkins Media final, registering an impressive win in 29.85.
Miss Tayliana ($7) began well from box six, but was unable to hold out Paddy’s Meika, who railed strongly to win in 29.84 seconds.
Phlox will join Paddy’s Meika after finishing strongly to finish 1.75 lengths away.
The Hawkins Media Laurels is Australia’s richest race for young bitches, with $50,000 up for grabs to the winner.
The Hawkins Media honour role boasts some of the greatest bitches ever to grace the racetrack, including Winifred Bale, Sandi’s Me Mum and Paua To Burn.
Selections: 1 Miss Hot Gossip, 2 Tasman Queen, 3 Fergalicious.
