Bewildering’s star continues to rise after a dazzling display in his heat of the group 1 Harrison-Dawson at Sandown Park tonight.
Just a week after his breathtaking victory in the group 3 Bill Collins Speed Star match race series, Bewildering showed he is also adept in a full field by racing away from exciting youngster Jimmy Newob to score by 3½ lengths in 29.18. Kennelmate Invictus Rapid finished third to give Seona Thompson a two pronged attack in next Thursday’s $145,000 group 1 final.
Remarkably, Bewildering was winless in his first five starts at Sandown Park and had won just two of his first nine career starts. Tonight’s win was his fifth on end and a win in the final would be his third group race victory this month.
Bruce Tycoon won the night’s opening heat, holding out track record holder Unlawful Entry by ¾ of a length. It was the rising four year old’s 30th win of his career and 11th wearing the red vest.
Black Mumbo won the final heat by defeating Igor Karkaroff in a slick time of 29.41.
In the group 1 Sapphire Crown, Striker Light and Up Hill Jill will meet for the seventh time on the track in what is growing into one of the great rivalries in recent years.
Up Hill Jill was the fastest heat winner, stopping the clock in 29.60, while Striker Light finished second to Flyrite which ran 29.61. The Sapphire Crown is Striker Light’s fifth group 1 final of 2017 and will be aiming for a third win at the sport’s highest level.
Western Australian speedster Pepper Fire took full advantage of the inside draw to win the night’s opening race, while Princess Pout became the fourth Speed Star finalist to claim a feature heat when she took out the final heat of the night.
Four heats of the RSN Sandown Cup were also run on the night, with one of the greatest fields in the race’s storied history assembled to contest next Thursday night’s $250,000 final.
The box draw for all three finals will be conducted live on RSN927 from 11am on Saturday morning and will be streamed live on the club’s Facebook page.
Click here for full results and replays from tonight’s meeting.
Bewildering sets the time standard in 29.18
