SA Trots - Southern Cross Heats night brings out the stars

Hobby trainer Ross Collins believes he picked up a bargain in promising two-year-old filly Jawsofgoodtime, an impressive winner at Globe Derby Park on Saturday.

Contesting heat one of the 2024 Cobbity Equine Farm Southern Cross Series for two-year-old fillies (1800m), Jawsofgoodtime ($2.50 fav), driven by Corey Johnson, led throughout to score a 7-1/2 metre win from Torque Intheusa ($4.60) with Kittycat Cutie ($3.40), 14-1/2 metres away third.

Johnson dictated the tempo with a pedestrian 65 second first half of the last 1600 metres before dashing home in 57.2 seconds.

Collins, who trains at Mallala, purchased the filly from the Lamond family in the South-East for $3500.

“With a win in Mildura and now tonight she has picked up $17,000 in bonuses as well as $10,000 in stakes so it has been a great buy,” Collins said.

“I’m sure she will be even better with a bit of age because she is still a big baby.

“If there is a minor injury to be picked up, she will find it but thanks to Corey (Johnson), her race manners are improving with every run.”

Collins is looking forward to Jawsofgoodtime competing in the $35,000 Cobbity Equine Farm Southern Cross Final (1800m) on Saturday at Globe Derby Park but will find Brighton, the winner of the second heat, a massive rival.

Owned and bred by former Harness Racing South Australia chief executive, Mark Carey, Brighton was devastating in taking out her heat.

Trained in Victoria by Emma Stewart, and driven by Gaita Pullicino, Brighton ($1.10 fav) led throughout from gate five and raced away to win by 25-1/2 metres rating a sizzling 1:54.4.

Machete Roulette ($7) chased the winner throughout and held on for second, 6-1/2 metres in front of Jades Hope ($21).

Brighton, although yet to win before Saturday had been racing against the best of her sex in Victoria and appreciated the chance to run in the Southern Cross.

The barrier draw will be crucial for the 2024 Alabar Three-Year-Old Colts & Geldings Southern Cross Series Final (2230m) following two outstanding heats on Saturday.

Hezrockinroyalty ($2.90) made effective use of gate two to find the lead in the first heat and prove too good for Bay Jim Major ($1.33 fav) which raced outside him but had to be content with second, beaten three metres, rating 1:58.8.

The winner is part-owned and trained at Murray Bridge by Alan Cronin, who wore his “lucky” green Irish socks on Saturday, and no doubt will have them on again this week.

Cronin and his wife Ngareta had a European vacation earlier this year and made a good friendship in Ireland with Derek Delaney who runs the standardbred Oakwood Stud in County Offaly with his brother James.

The Delaneys have also created the Vincent Delaney Memorial in honour of their brother who passed away from cancer at a young age. The VDM weekend is growing each year and attracts visitors from around the world.

“I’m sure Derek will have watched Hezrockinroyalty’s win, we stay in regular communication.

“A while ago we were having trouble getting to race truly, but a number of gear changes and putting Ryan (Hryhorec) in the sulky has helped turn it all around.

“He is coming good at the right time and I’m sure with a favourable draw he will be competitive in the final.”

Bay Jim Major, trained by Les Harding and driven by Danielle Hill, lost no admirers with his second and he be a major factor this Saturday in the $35,000 final.

Victorian trainer Emma Stewart and driver Gaita Pullicino brought up a double when No Notthebuttons led throughout in heat two.

An unbackable $1.10 favourite, No Notthebuttons, part-owned by Aaron Basin Racing and a number of their major clients, rated 1:56.9 in beating Tonkawaikon ($7) which chased him throughout by eight metres with Tembie ($17), two metres away third.

Pullicino rated the winner perfectly, increasing the tempo with each quarter and a final 400 metres in 27.9 seconds, making it near impossible to be run down.

The $35,000 Cobbity Equine Farm Two-Year-Old Colts & Geldings (1800m) Southern Cross Series final also looks to be an interesting clash with Saturday’s heat winners both impressive.

Splash Of Paynt ($2.90 into $1.65 fav) led throughout from gate one in his heat, driven by Danielle Hill, and rating an impressive 1:56.2.

Having just his second start for trainer Ray Holberton, the gelding won comfortably by 7-1/2 metres from Stormy Woods ($2.90), trained in Mount Gambier by Steven Fennell, with Imposter Boy ($17), nine metres away third.

While Splash Of Paynt was impressive, so too was the second heat winner Always Dancing, trained by Alyce Finnis in Mount Gambier, and driven by her husband Jayson.

Always Dancing ($1.40 fav) was driven up to lead but was tackled strongly from the 500-metre mark by Victorian-trained Zenario ($3) and the pair looked set for a stirring battle.

But in the home straight, the winner raced away to score by 8 metres from Art Regal ($21) which grabbed second with Zenario a half-metre away third.

Another exciting rematch this Saturday will be in the $20,000 Two-Year-Old Trotters Southern Cross (1800m).

After looking a star of the future with his amazing win in the Parker Classic, Reoffender has found a worthy adversary in Feel The Moment at his next two runs.

Each time, Reoffender has been able to score photo finish wins but only after Feel The Moment proved hard to run down.

The most recent was in the Ladbrokes 2YO Trotters Mobile (1800m) on Saturday.

Trained by Jill Neilson and Katie Wilson and driven by Wayne Hill, Reoffender ($1.45 fav) sat parked but still finished best to score a half neck win over Feel The Moment ($2.70), trained by Matt Maguire, and driven by Danielle Hill.

The heats were the appetizers on Saturday, this Saturday at Globe Derby Park will be the main meal with all the Southern Cross Series finals.