Bettor's Strike showed he was on target for the Auckland Cup on March 12 with success at the Addington trials yesterday.
Bettor's Strike won the mobile one-win-and-faster heat over 1950m by nine lengths in 2:23.9, a 1:58.7 mile rate, with the last 800m in 59.5 and the final 400m in
29.8.
The Cran Dalgety-trained pacer has been freshened since failing in the Hunter Cup at Moonee Valley, won by fellow Cantabrian Bondy, 19 days ago.
He has the City Of Auckland Free-For-All, a $50,000 2200m (mobile) tomorrow week as his lead-up to the group one $500,000 Auckland Cup (2700m) the following Friday night.
Empyrean showed he would be a force in 2-year-old races with a dashing win yesterday.
The son of Christian Cullen and the grand racemare Sparks A Flyin won a heat over 2000m (mobile) by five lengths in 2:30.8 (a 2:01.3 mile rate).
He covered the final 800m in 57.3, the last 400m in 27.5.
Sparks A Flyin won 21 races and stakes of $627,218 from the Dalgety stable for Jim and Susan Wakefield, who race Empyrean and Bettor's Strike.
Empyrean is the second foal of Sparks A Flyin, who has left Diomedes (by McArdle), the winner of eight races.
Montecrengle created a fine impression when he qualified 10.4 seconds under the required time at Winton yesterday.
Montecrengle, a Christian Cullen-Little Egypt 3-year-old trained by Lauren Pearson at Winton, recorded 3:03.6 for the 2400m, running the last 800m in 56.5 and the final 400m in27.1.
Little Egypt has left the winners In The Ghetto and Don't Be Cruel.
- OTAGO DAILY TIMES
