Dailly to double up in Warragul Cup

Trainer Andrea Dailly will launch a two-pronged challenge in her quest to win a second Warragul Cup on Friday night – 17 years after she scored with Sun Hero in 2005.

She’ll rug Gypsy Bun, which won the first of six heats tonight, and Indy Fido, which finished a thrilling second to Robbie Rotten in his heat. Watch

Based at Anakie, Dailly finished third with retired superstar Shima Shine in last year’s final after he’d set a new 460m track record (25.19sec) in a heat. She also prepared 2013 Warragul Cup runner-up, Grigorieva Bale.

VIDEO REPLAYS

HEAT 1: GYPSY BUN (1) was prominent from the outset and scored in 25.73sec over a resolute HEBRIDEAN BLACK (2) and INVICTUS RISING (3).

HEAT 2: Emerging talent HENNESSEY (2) shrugs off a challenge from series favourite TYPHOON SAMMY (6) before scoring in 25.53sec, as KINSON BALE (3) and KEEP IT BALCK (8) filled the minor placings.

HEAT 3: ROBBIE ROTTEN (4) set the early pace before winning by a whisker in a bob-of-the-head finish over INDY FIDO (3) and BROTHER BEARING in 25.59sec.

HEAT 4: ULTIMATE AVENGER (1) was held up for a run but he stuck to his guns and shot clear in the home straight to win in 25.87sec over RICCARTON RICK (3) and XAVIEN BALE (4).

HEAT 5: AUSSIE SECRET (3) looked to have the race in his keeping before going amiss, as TITAN BLAZER (8) backed up his Silver Chief minor placing with a tearaway victory in 25.58sec.

HEAT 6: It was a willing battle into the bend before HAMILLSON (8) took control, eventually edging out a fast-finishing NIKOLI BALE (1) in 25.97sec, while hot favourite WOW SHE’S FAST (3) was never a serious threat.

Other highlights to emerge from this evening’s heats include:

Track specialist Hennessey – trained at Lara by former Gippslander Ashlee Terry – was the fastest heat winner (25.53sec) and notched his sixth win from eight starts at Logan Park. The Group 3 Provincial Plate winner has now won nine of his past 10.
Rising star Titan Blazer, which finished third in last Saturday’s G1 Silver Chief at The Meadows, made it five wins from his past six starts. He is trained by former pro-wrestler Daniel Gibbons (aka Danny Psycho).
Ex-NSW country star Robbie Rotten – now in the Pearcedale kennel of 19-year-old training prodigy Kayla Cottrell – secured his seventh win from his past nine starts.

Friday night’s G2 SEN Track Warragul Cup final – which is part of the Gippsland Festival of Racing – will carry a first prize of $47,000.