WITH the spotlight firmly focused on Horsham gearing up for yet another fiery series of cup heats next week, a couple of hot runs took place over the popular 480m distance on Tuesday last week.

The Andrea Bahen-trained Midnight Ride (pictured above) was simply superb in overcoming a tardy start to sweep around the classy Azza Azza Azza in the magical time of 26.92sec (Replay).

It was his seventh win from 14 starts, and came fresh after his last start second placing behind Ronray Spirit in the Group 2 Warrnambool Cup.

Crackerjack Bob (Jordan Cooper) was another superb performer on the night, digging deep to hold off a persistent White Bandit in 27.06sec (Replay).
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Horsham Results & Replays: Click Here
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Ballarat was also proving itself to be a fine interlude to winter racing in the west last Wednesday.

The culmination of the maiden VBIS semi finals was a demonstration of country racing at its finest, with the Kellie Bravo trained Hard Bargain taking out the first heat emphatically in a flying 25.35sec (Replay).

The heats, which were offering $1,325 to the winner plus a potential $1,000 GOBIS bonus, were hotly contested – with the equally talented Marvelous Marvin saluting in the second of the three heats – proving Hard Bargain will be forced to drive hard to get up in the final (Formguide).

With plenty of consistency and weight set to be distributed throughout the field for the final, it should provide a cracking conclusion to the Ballarat leg of the VBIS.

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Ballarat Results & Replays: Click Here
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At Warrnambool on Thursday it was Scenic Shot that ran quickest over the 450m when clocking a time of 25.37sec (Replay), and he was part of a double for trainer John Magri.

Meanwhile, Anakie’s Glen Campbell also trained a Running Double on the card through Oh Lele Peter and Disco Diamond.
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Warrnambool Results & Replays: Click Here
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Beckley Park was home to a couple of enthralling finals on Friday night, rounding off a good night for the people of Geelong with the Cats saluting up the Princes Highway.

The Mark Delbridge trained Allen Gravion scored remarkably in the first of the two – pocketing an impressive $3,050. The most impressive facet of his run wasn’t the fact that he set the track alight in 29.88sec over the 520 metres – instead that he managed to do so while paying around $12.70 (Replay).

In another outside victory, Hetalia Bale managed to show punters and enthusiasts that she isn’t to be taken lightly – scoring in the reserve rug at a mammoth $16.70. Able to hold off the consistent Nayla Swift, she showed good drive to the line to salute by almost three lengths.

I hope you enjoy the fine racing set to take the spotlight over the coming weeks – and I’ll see you back here for another Western Wrap next week!
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Geelong Results & Replays: Click Here
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Watch: Midnight Ride (7) zips past Azza Azza Azza (8) to win at Horsham on May 19.