TOUTED as race favourite, David Tinney says he felt confident leading into the $25,000 Ballarat Gift 120-metre final yesterday.
But pulling on the sash for the biggest win of his professional career still took a few moments to sink in.
The Geelong sprinter burst off the blocks at 8.5 metres and held strong in a tight finish on the line in 12.28 seconds at Eureka Stadium.
Werribee’s Shaun Hargreaves (7m) was a narrow second while 2006 Stawell Gift winner Adrian Mott powered down the straight third to almost snatch an upset from a backmark of three metres.
Tinney, who has been on the Victorian Athletic League circuit for about nine years, won his first sash in Ballarat for the 2005 120m novice.
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He has been building towards a headline prize since.
“It certainly feels that way,” Tinney said.
“I usually come in pretty confident to races but to have the win, it actually feels great.”
A tiler by trade, Tinney eased back work this week in a bid to strengthen his chances in Ballarat.
Tinney, a finalist in Ballarat last year, has been in dominant form this season, including runner-up finishes in the Maryborough and Albury-Wodonga gifts.
A quick time in Albury, second to Ballarat’s Joel Bee, a fortnight ago had race commentary peg Tinney as one to watch early in the Ballarat carnival.
The Peter Walsh-trained sprinter lived up to expecations with strong times in his Saturday night heat and semi-final wins.
Tinney’s betting odds dropped dramatically leading into the Gift final – which he later learned was helped with backing from stablemate and 2010 Ballarat Gift runner-up Kevin Brittain.
Did he feel the pressure?
“I wouldn’t say no,” Tinney said.
It has been a big summer for Tinney, who married his partner Ailie two months ago.
Tinney has a couple more race meets on his agenda this season, including Keilor next week, but said Ballarat had been his primary aim.
Victory in Ballarat will pull back Tinney’s mark and toughen his chances leading into the Stawell Gift carnival at Easter.
Fellow Geelong sprinter Liam Dooley set the tone on Saturday night with the fastest Ballarat Gift heat time.
Matthew Wiltshire was the sole hometown contender to reach yesterday’s Gift semi-finals.
Wiltshire was pipped of a spot in the final by 0.04 seconds after finishing second to Mott in his semi.
Tinney’s victory returns Ballarat’s marquee sash to Victoria.
Defending champion Andrew McCabe, from Queensland, was in action at the Athletics Australia Perth track classic this weekend.
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