SIRONEN TIGER, Backcreek Butch, Hara’s Oden and Hope’s Jacky have stamped their tickets to the Group 3 Golden Chase final after four hotly contested 520m heats at Q2 Parklands on Thursday night.
A $100,000 winner’s cheque awaits in the final to be run tonight, with last week’s qualifiers producing everything from dominant favourite victories to a boilover in the last heat.
Sironen Tiger ($2.50) opened proceedings in style, returning from a 44-day spell to salute in heat one.
The second favourite brought an imposing Parklands record into the race, boasting six wins and one placing from 14 starts at the track and trip, and wasted little time adding another victory to his tally.
Heat two produced one of the better performances of the night as Backcreek Butch ($1.65) was forced to chase down a flying Scrub’s Blue.
Scrub’s Blue may have been beaten, but his runner-up finish kept alive a remarkable bid for a Golden Chase hat-trick.
The $5.50 second elect had already won Golden Chase series at Q1 Lakeside and down the straight earlier this year and will now get his chance to complete the treble in the Parklands decider.
Trainer Jemma Daley’s Hara’s Oden ($2.25) produced another eye-catching effort in heat three.
Once in front, Hara’s Olden put the race away in a hurry, stretching his advantage to six lengths before extending again around the home bend.
But the upset of the night was saved for the fourth and final heat.
Hope’s Jacky opened an early advantage of seven lengths, leaving Malawi Rebel desperately trying to bridge the gap as the leader refused to buckle.
Now, a new Golden Chase champion awaits.
