By MICHAEL FLOYD
FASTEST heat winner Premier Boloney should start as favourite for the group 2 McKenna Memorial at Sandown Park this Thursday night after drawing box 1 for the $56,000 final.
In its heat Premier Boloney began well and railed strongly under surprise early leader Lady Gray on leaving the home straight. Once in front, the group 2 Dawson placegetter was never in doubt, racing to a comfortable 2¾-length win in 34.00 seconds.
“He’s very fast. He has run 34.20 previously at the track, but his time tonight was a bit of a surprise,” said an ecstatic trainer Kelly Bravo after the race. We’re very happy with box one for the final.”
Bravo was just as proud of her second finalist Katie Merry, who came into the race having been sidelined since early May . “We were hopeful more than confident with her going into the race but she went really well.”
Remarkably, both Premier Boloney (sired by Premier Fantasy) and Katie Merry (sired by Go Wild Teddy) are out of dual Melbourne Cup finalist Miss Mini Mouse.
RSN Sandown Cup winner Irma Bale bounced back to the winner’s list with an impressive four-length win over Coolan Miss in 34.12 seconds.
After finding trouble at the first turn, Irma Bale powered away to record her first victory since her Sandown Cup triumph.
“She jumped with them and got to the front but was dragged down and fell two or three lengths behind Garret Bale. But she got underneath him down the back and really showed her class after that,” said handler Joe Briffa.
Trainer Jamie Ennis had mixed emotions after boom youngster One Last Dance won the night’s opening heat in 34.15 seconds.
Facing the biggest test of her 15-start career, One Last Dance overcame box 5 to record an impressive 3¾-length win over Katie Merry and secure her ninth victory.
However,One Last Dance’s chances of victory in the final were severely hampered when she again came up with box 5.
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