HEAVEN ROCKS GIVES PURDON THIRD CUP IN A ROW

Heaven Rocks continued the Ballarat Pacing Cup domination of NZ trainer Mark Purdon at Bray Raceway on Saturday night.

The Kiwi led all the way to hold off a late charge by a courageous Lennytheshark, with the Emma Stewart-trained Shadow Sax third after working up outside Heaven Rocks in the last 1000m.

While Purdon has  won three consecutive group 1 $100,000 Ballarat Cups as a trainer, for the second time in a row he was not in the sulky.

He drove Smolda to victory two years ago, but had to settle for second on Lazarus behind Smolda (Anthony Butt) last year.

This year he was to drive early favourite Vincent, but the star 4yo was scratched with a leg issue.

His partner Natalie Rasmussen took the winning drive.

HOW THEY FINISHED

$2.10fav Heaven Rocks (Natalie Rasmussen)

$3.80 Lennytheshark (Chris Alford)

$3 Shadow Sax (Gavin Lang)

Then followed

Mister Wickham

The Faithful

Major Secret

It Is Billy

Bernie Winkle

Margins: half neck x 8.5m

MR: 1:55.9

SHADOW SAX BIG HOMETOWN HOPE FOR CUP

IT IS BILLY BACK FOR ANOTHER TRY

VINCENT SHOCK SCRATCHING FROM CUP

LENNYTHESHARK’S PROSPECTS RISE FOR THIRD ATTEMPT AT CUP

RACE-BY-RACE

10.58PM – www.petstock.com.au PACE

OFFICIAL PLACINGS

$2.50fav Manganello (Rhys Nicholson)

$7.10 Rock N Roll Chapel (Joe Pace)

$19.70 Pocket Thedeal (Glenn Douglas)

10.30PM – THE PROVINCIAL C4-C5 PACE

OFFICIAL PLACINGS

$2.40 Jilliby Kung Fu (Jason Lee)

$35.10 No Bettertime (David Murphy)

$1.50fav Our Little General (Chris Alford)

10PM – VICTORIA DERBY heat 3

OFFICIAL PLACINGS

$1.04fav Lumineer (Jason Lee)

$15.30 Maraetai (Gavin Lang)

$25.40 Tam Major (Rod Petroff)

 - Little Peanut finished fourth to qualify for Vic Derby final

9PM – VICTORIA DERBY heat 2

NZ trainer-driver Mark Purdon leads all the way on SPANKEM to charge into the group 1 Vic derby final.

OFFICIAL PLACINGS

$1.10fav Spankem (Mark Purdon)

$16.40 Code Bailey (Glen Craven)

$47.30 The Brooklyn Brawler (Philip Walters)

-  the Emma Stewart-trained Major Times finishes fourth to qualify for Vic Derby final.

8.30PM – EB COCHRAN TROTTERS’ CUP

What a finish.

The Italian bred mare My Tribeca catches Sparkling Success right on the line after getting the run of the race behind leader and stablemate Vincennes.

Biggest win on home track for Cardigan trainer Anton Golino and Yabby Dam Racing operation since setting up in Ballarat.

OFFICIAL PLACINGS

19.60 My Tribeca (Nathan Jack)

$1.50fav Sparkling Success (Chris Svanosio)

$6.40 Vincennes (Jason Lee)

8PM – CARIBOU HORSEWEAR  C0 FINAL

Cardigan trainer Emma Stewart and champion reinsman Chris Alford bring up a winning double with short-priced favourite All A Breeze, which makes it two wins on end.

OFFICIAL PLACINGS

$1.30 fav ALL A BREEZE (Chris Alford)

$18.50 Myrniong Is Away (John Caldow)

$52.40 Ozzie Bogan (Glenn Douglas)

7.30PM – PETSTOCK REWARDS C1 FINAL

OFFICIAL PLACINGS

$3.90 Tough Call (Matthew Craven)

$3.10 fav Beach Garden (Emmett Craven)

$3.80 Luvumoves (Glen Craven)

7.03PM – VICBRED PLATINUM TROTTING MARES CHAMPIONSHIP heat 3

Margaret Ruth flies home in 1:57.7 over the short trip of 1710m. to win at her first race start since December 9, when she scored at Geelong.

That’s another one too for the late Bob Conroy, who died last month after a legendary training career at Daylesford.

He previously trained Margaret Ruth, who is now in the care of his daughter Anne-Maree Conroy.

OFFICIAL PLACINGS

$1.60 fav Margaret Ruth (Anne-Maree Conroy)

$12.20 Derrie Aire (Kate Gath)

$76.90 Truscott Law (Brad Angove)

6.32PM – VICTORIA DERBY heat 1

Ballarat trainer Emma Stewart strikes first with her star 3yo Poster Boy getting up in the last few strides.

OFFICIAL PLACINGS

$4.70 Poster Boy (Chris Alford)

$1.80fav Colt Thirty One (Grant Dixon) Qld

$5 The Devils Own (Natalie Rasmussen) NZ

With first four qualifying for the Vic Derby final - Emma Stewart-trained Corzin Change also qualifies for the group 1 classic.