Courtesy of The Dogs website

Nova Rides The Futurity Wave

02/02/09
Star local sprinter Nova Surf confirmed her billing as the one to beat in the Group One National Futurity Final with another breathtaking front running performance to win her semi final at The Gardens last Friday.

The box draw for Friday night’s final certainly plays in her favour with wide runner Sky Fly High on her immediate right bound to give her space into the first bend and as the quickest 1st sectional chaser in the field, she looks the leader and they face an arduous task to run her down from there.

Group One National Futurity Final (515m)
$50,000 to-the-winner

BOX ONE DIGITAL MAGIC
Heat: 1st running 29.74 seconds, beating Farmor Swift by 6.75 lengths
Semi Final: 1st running 29.88 seconds, beating Bongeen’s Girl by 4.5 lengths

She has been dominant in this series with two front running displays that have broken the hearts of those behind trying to catch her. Trainer Mick Abbott has seen star duo Wonderous exit the series with injury and Perfect Token fail to qualify, can his remaining bitch do the job for him.

BOX TWO MONA’S ABBEY
Heat: 4th running 30.18 seconds, beaten by Whirly Storm & Fiery Opal
Semi Final: 2nd running 30.13 seconds, beaten by Farmor Swift

In the camp of master trainer Warren Harper who put the lead on champion stayer Miagi, Mona’s Abbey has quietly found herself in a Group One final but may find the rise in class coupled with a box draw that sees her sandwiched between speed a task too hard.

BOX THREE NOVA SURF
Heat: 1st running 29.49 seconds, beating Smart Betsy by 0.75 lengths
Semi Final: 1st running 29.71 seconds, beating Whirly Storm by 6 lengths

Following on from her sizzling heat win, Nova Surf started a red hot favourite in her semi final yet never gave her supporters a moment’s worry as she gapped Lismore Cup winner Whirly Storm to record a six length victory. Boxed to lead here, her opponents will have a hard time chasing her down.

BOX FOUR SKY FLY HIGH
Heat: 1st running 29.64 seconds, beating Gnarralroo
Semi Final: 2nd running 30.08 seconds, beaten by Smart Betsy

Trainer Victor Bennett will be quietly confident his female star Sky Fly High can deliver the upset of the final here as she should jump on par with them and if Nova Surf missed the kick, she can assume the leaders role.

BOX FIVE BONGEEN’S GIRL
Heat: 3rd running 30.15 seconds, beaten by Sky Fly High & Gnarraloo
Semi Final: 2nd running 30.20 seconds, beaten by Digital Magic

Bound to begin cricket score odds, Bongeen’s Girl has been solid throughout the series but a middle alley combined with mad railer Smart Betsy to her right makes her finals ask too tough.

BOX SIX SMART BETSY
Heat: 2nd running 29.53 seconds, beaten by Nova Surf
Semi Final: 1st running 30.05 seconds, beating Sky Fly High by 0.25 lengths

Back to her brilliant best with a come from behind semi final win overcoming an unsuitable wide draw to defeat Sky Fly High. She will need some luck again from out wide but if there are chinks in the leaders, she can close like the wind late.

BOX SEVEN WHIRLY STORM
Heat: 1st running 29.88 seconds, beating Fiery Opal by 1.5 lengths
Semi Final: 2nd running 30.13 seconds, beaten by Nova Surf

Already a Group winner with the Lismore Cup to her name, Whirly Storm couldn’t bridge back hot Nova Surf last week and will need some charmed passages to be in the finish on Friday night from a tricky wide box.

BOX EIGHT FARMOR SWIFT
Heat: 2nd running 30.22 seconds, beaten by Digital Magic
Semi Final: 1st running 29.92 seconds, beating Mona’s Abbey by 3 lengths

Victorian bitch that has handled The Gardens circuit well, improving to lead throughout last week in her semi final when defeating Mona’s Abbey. Looks the wildcard of the field and if a first bend scrimmage occurs she may get the charmed run.

1st EMERGENCY JANE’S REACTION
Heat: 5th running 30.14 seconds, beaten Nova Surf & Smart Betsy
Semi Final: 3rd running 30.19 seconds, beaten by Nova Surf and Whirly Storm

2nd EMERGENCY FIERY OPAL
Heat: 2nd running 29.99 seconds, beaten by Whirly Storm
Semi Final: 3rd running 30.20 seconds, beaten by Farmor Swift and Mona’s Abbey