Miss Ohana and Tracy The Jet shine in Nutrien Heats at Bendigo

Prominent New South Wales driver Will Rixon made the right decision with a quick raid at Bendigo on Wednesday when his tough filly Miss Ohana (Art Major) led all the way to take out the First heat of the Nutrien Equine Classic race series for three year old trotters.

An easing favourite Miss Ohana strode to the early lead from out in barrier five and from then onwards she always looked the one to beat. Her task was made easier when her main rival Sassy Galleon galloped shortly after the start and ruining her chances.

Perfectly rated in the lead by Rixon, Miss Ohana gave a faultless display of front running and she was allowed to run her last two quarters in 28.4 and 29 seconds for an overall mile rate of 2.00.4. She scored by just under nine metres from Iron Women and New South Wales visitor Your Majesty who finished on well for third.

MISS OHANA SEP 3 REPLAY

Miss Ohana is trained at Shepparton by Courtney Laker who races the filly for her brother Shannon and aunt Carmen Mifsud.

Earlier in the season Miss Ohana won the New South Wales 3YO Trotters Foundation Final at Menangle as well as the 3YO Trotters Final at Menangle in early July.

However she will face stiff opposition in the $125,000 Final at Melton on September 13 from star filly Tracy The Jet (Love You) who looked awesome winning the second heat just 30 minutes later.

Fresh from winning the Holmfield at Melton in mid August, Tracy The Jet with James Herbertson piloting was made to do some work early by Princess Du Fer. Racing keenly while in the lead Tracy The Jet still had far too much class for the field and she drew clear on the final bend to win by just under 15 metres from Keayang Kurti who came from near last to run second with Prohibited Grace just under 25 metres away in third.

TRACY THE JET SEP 3 REPLAY

Tracy The Jet’s winning mile rate of 1.57.5 was notably quicker than the first heat.

Tracy The Jet showed ability as a two year old winning twice but this season she has been in rare form winning four of her five races with her only defeat being a somewhat unlucky second in the New South Wales Trotters Oaks when driven by Grant Dixon.

Tracy The Jet who is trained by Jess Tubbs is the younger half sister to unbeaten Derek The Jet a winner of his nine starts who swept all before him last season.

The Final looks to be a two way clash between Tracy The Jet and Miss Ohana with the former likely to start favourite. However there is a tough quality regarding Miss Ohana and if she lands in front it will be fascinating to see if she can hold off Tracy The Jet.

Earlier in the evening, there was only a Prelude run for the three year old colts and geldings and it was taken out in most impressive style by Ijustcalledtosay (Love You).

Having some support, Ijustcalledtosay from the outside of the second row was given time to settle by driver Kylie Sugars before going up to race outside the leader Kyvalley Jagger. Ijustcalledtosay went to the front at the bell with Sam Nien in hot pursuit.

Zarski looked to be the fresh horse on the scene and Sam Nien continued to show fight.

However despite having had a hard run, Ijustcalledtosay dug in and he kicked clear on the final bend to hold off Zarski by just under three metres with Sam Nien still showing determination for third placing.

On the strength of his win Ijustcalledtosay is likely to start favourite in the Final for the colts and geldings and he looks to have a bright future.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink