Final Deadline scorches in 1.49.6

Noted speedster Final Deadline (Bettors Delight) gave a polished display of front running when he took out the Garrards Horse And Hounds Be Good Johnny Sprint at Albion Park on Saturday night.

Attachment was installed as favourite as he was expected to lead from barrier three, but driver Adam Sanderson had other ideas and he sooled his charge to the front as Attachment couldn’t quite hold him out.

This left Attachment facing the breeze with driver Pete McMullen easing back hoping to get a trail but he had no luck and was therefore left facing the breeze. Final Deadline ran his first quarter in 25.8 seconds before getting a second quarter breather of 29.9 seconds before speeding up the tempo with a 27.6 seconds third quarter and he was off again in the last quarter for 26.5 seconds and that proved too much for his rivals.

Overall Final Deadline ran an overall time of 1.49.6 and he cruised to an easy win over Catseye Beach who had the trail behind the leader and Captain Chuckles who finished strongly for third. Understandably with a torrid run in such fast time Attachment finished sixth.

The meeting was the first of the Starlights Summer Festival which will culminate in the running of the Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park on 5 December.

And on that performance Final Deadline who performs well at Albion Park looks well placed for the forthcoming features, especially if he contests the $75,000 Sunshine Sprint in a fortnight’s time.

The other feature of the evening was the Group 3 Ground Up Maintenance Trotter Feature which was won in fine style by local mare Golden Sunset (Skyvalley). Patiently driven by Nathan Dawson Golden Sunset was able to sit behind the leader Keayang Stuka. Mufasa Metro made a run and was three wide and facing the breeze at the bell.

Keayang Stuka still held the lead on straightening but Golden Sunset went for the inside and she finished too well to defeat Keayang Stuka in a tight finish with Mufasa Metro a close third.

Golden Sunset is racing in great heart and the nine year old mare has now won three of her four starts.

Another important win was that of the colt Fire And Passion (Always B Miki) who looked very impressive winning the Burwood Stud three year old feature.

Fire and Passion is vying to be amongst the final runners selected for next week’s $1.5 million Eureka next Saturday night at Menangle and may well have earned himself a place in the coveted feature.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink