El Galo Thunders Into Paws Final

STAR Victorian El Galo again produced stunning early sectionals to posted the fastest semi final winning time in tonight’s Paws Of Thunder series at Wentworth Park.
The Jason Thompson-trained son of Where’s Pedro scorched the sand track to post 5.31 to the post the first time (replicating his September 20 effort), 16.64 to the 620m boxes (13.62 last week) and was untroubled to score by a clear 7 3/4 lengths in 29.71.
And it is his high speed which sets him apart from most.
Rails runner One Tree Hill battled gamely to the line and held Proven Polly – a kennelmate to El Galo – for second by 1 3/4 lengths and secure a place in the $100,000 to the winner final.
Young Star Classic winner Cindeen Shelby started a solid 5/4 chance in the second semi final but, in an incident packed run to the first turn, she fell heavily and the smart Surgeon (box 5) also came down.
Surgeon, in fact, hit the outside fence at the first turn and slid along the fence for a few metres before finding his feet again.
The semi final was taken out by Nimbastic which was applying all sort of pressure to the inside division as she tried to move to the rails from box seven.
Mid-race she held a massive lead and held on to account for Fedex by 3-1/4 lengths while Canberra Cup winner Borat was another three lengths away in third place.
El Galo’s connections, while not wanting any harm to come to a rival, would have considered the upset a boost to their prospects and the third semi final offered even more.
National Sprint Champion Knocka Norris was pitted against National Distance Champion Mantra Lad and it was the powerful Mantra Lad which reigned supreme.
Knocka Norris began rather moderately from box five, was squeezed to the tail of the field after 100m and eventually finished a distant last in a fast 29.73.
While Knocka Norris was finding trouble, Mantra Lad positioned himself outside leader Iigloo Osti at the first turn and, after reaching the lead before the home turn, powered away to score by an ever-expanding 8 1/2 lengths.
Radio Star battled into third place but was nearly 11 lengths from the winner.
The fourth semi final looked an even contest on paper but favourite backers had little to get exited about after Lorna Moira was able to lead from the unsuitable six alley and score by four lengths in 30.19.
Track specialist Orphan Point finished a creditable second while Jack Dolly, after being only moderately away from box three, rallied to finish third, some five lengths from the winner.
The Paws Of Thunder box draw is: 1 One Tree Hill, 2 Iigloo Osti, 3 Mantra Lad, 4 El Galo, 5 Fedex, 6 Orphan Point, 7 Nimbastic, 8 Lorna Moira. The reserves are Proven Polly and Borat.