Courtesy of The Dogs

Interstate Raiders Steal Cup Thunder
Written by: Peter Davis 09/01/10


They came, saw and conquered.

Interstate raiders arrived at WentworthPark tonight with NSW’s richest staying race – the Association Cup – an enticing lure and, in three eclectic heats, two upsets arrived.

The opening heat arrived with an immediate shock when at the start, first two dogs to ‘break the line’ were Reign Over Me and Drill ‘Em.

The pair absolutely dominated betting and, when expected to vie for the lead, the well credentialed pair were at the tail of the field and in trouble.

Meanwhile, Tifi landed on the speed but National Sprint Champion Dashing Corsair, after a really nifty start from the eight trap, took over at the 520m boxes.

Dashing Corsair had performed below expectations in a heat of Sale Cup (650m) on December 20 but has since trialled very well on home ground (at Albion Park) over 710m.

A drifter in betting, Dashing Corsair chased by Jarvis Bale from the winning post the first time but try as he might, the Queenslander was not threatened to score by a neat length in 42.49 seconds.

After a checkered passage, Reign Over Me battled into third place and his effort to finish so close was meritorious.

He’s guaranteed a start in the $50,000 winner final and trainer Michael Cope will not be giving up on his charge.

Heat two was decimated by scratchings and 2008 National Distance Champion Mantra Lad was gifted the contest when nominal threat Shadow Boxer was a conspicuous and distant last after two bounds.

In the end, Mantra Lad posted a career best 42.09 on a quick racing surface and had a stunning 16 lengths to spare over runner runner-up Santino Marella – a half brother to Queen Lauryn.

Shadow Boxer managed third ahead of outsider Spiritual Cloud but was later deemed to have marred and is ineligible to contest the final. In finishing third, he was included in the field but cannot start.

An in-form Forty Twenty produced one of his least impressive offerings in heat three and finished fourth to WA visitor Countess Of Cork in 42.51.

Countess Of Cork, herself, was stepped away fairly from the rails alley but settled just behind Miss Jersey and took control after 300m. Thereafter, she was not challenged and went on to score by four lengths from a game Lochinvar Vogue.

Lochinvar Vogue, after beginning quickly, was crossed by Miss Jersey in the run to the first turn and was relegated to fourth soon after and was again checked.

She was 10 lengths fifth in the middle stages but rallied to snare second and a spot in the big final.

Forty Twenty, which had dominated from the front at Gosford and Cannington at his past two starts, was ill at ease from box six, hampered on a couple of occasions but that was little compensation for connections or his backers.

He finished four – in a calculated time of 43.08 which had him .01 outside Drill ‘Em’s effort in the series opener.

Drill ‘Em, therefore is the second reserve for the final but, in the unlikely event of a scratching, he will be in the race. Shadow Boxer’s lack of attention to detail forced that aspect.

The box draw for the Association Cup Final is:
1 Mantra Lad (Vic)
2 Dashing Corsair (Qld)
3 Jarvis Bale (Vic)
4 Countess Of Cork (WA)
5 Lochinvar Vogue (NSW)
6 Santino Marella (Qld)
7 Laura’s Legacy (NSW)
8 Reign Over Me (NSW)
Shadow Boxer (Vic) and Drill ‘Em (Vic) are the reserves.