THE battle for Lakeside Cup glory has erupted at The Q, with six explosive heats delivering betting plunges, upset victories and thrilling finishes as Queensland’s leading sprinters fought for a place in the 457m feature final.
While heavily backed favourites Canya Romance and Aston Missile lived up to expectations, Nangar Wally and Dalgety produced two of the night’s standout performances to shake up the Group racing contest.
The opening heat belonged to Remember Bruce, who rewarded a significant betting plunge after firming from $8.50 into $4.60 before delivering the goods.
The victory strengthened an already impressive record over the Q1 Lakeside 457m journey, with Remember Bruce now boasting two wins and four placings from seven appearances at the track and distance.
Blue Magician stepped up in class and answered the challenge in the second heat, with the Michael Patterson- trained chaser overcoming stronger opposition to salute at $5.50.
However, the action intensified in the third heat when Nangar Wally produced a powerful finishing burst to claim victory after an early battle for supremacy.
Daysea’s Max ($4.40) exploded from the boxes and established an immediate advantage, with $14 outsider Red Rapidity stalking the leader through the opening stages.
But Nangar Wally was looming dangerously as the field swept around the home bend, surging to the front before kicking clear in the straight.
The Bernardo x Nangar Silk chaser had attracted plenty of support, shortening from $12 into $6.50 on the strength of an impressive last-start victory down the Capalaba straight.
There was no such upset in the fourth heat as $1.80 favourite Canya Romance stamped her authority on the contest with a commanding front-running display.
The favourite pounced at box rise and immediately seized control, with Burringbar Rebel ($10) initially giving chase before dropping back through the field.
Nangar Nugget ($11) launched a determined late challenge, but Canya Romance refused to surrender the advantage, kicking clear to complete an impressive victory.
The fifth heat delivered another victory for favourite backers, although Aston Missile ($1.70) was made to earn every metre before prevailing for leading trainer Michelle Sultana.
Daysea’s Rory ($20) flew from the boxes and opened a strong early lead, while My Boy Bingo ($5.50) pressed forward on the outside and Zipping Urban ($3.10) challenged along the rails.
With the early leaders fighting for position, Aston Missile was forced to work into contention before making a decisive move approaching the home straight.
The Sultana-trained chaser gathered momentum around the bend, swept to the lead and powered away to justify the short starting price.
However, Sultana was denied a heat double in the night’s final qualifier when Dalgety ($8.50) produced a brilliant rails-hugging finish to run down $2 favourite Massaro.
Outsider Penny Calido ($17) showed blistering early speed to lead at box rise, but Massaro quickly unleashed a powerful run around the outside to take control.
Turning for home, the favourite appeared to have the race at his mercy, with victory seemingly assured as the field straightened.
Dalgety had other plans.
Taking the shortest route, Dalgety scraped the paint along the inside rail before producing a strong finishing burst to overhaul Massaro and snatch the final heat.
The final will be run tonight, with the winner to secure $100,000.
Box Draw – Lakeside Cup Final
- Aston Missile
- Row Beau
- Blue Magician
- Dalgety
- Canya Romance
- Remember Bruce
- Nangar Wally
- Massaro
- Nangar Nugget
- She’s All Fire
