Big upset in Burnie Cup

Dazzle Me (American Ideal) caused an upset harness racing win when taking out the $14,000 7BU Burnie Cup at the Wivenhoe Paceway in Burnie on Sunday afternoon.

Sent out as a $21 chance, former Tasmanian, now Victorian-based driver Robert Walters got the eight-year-old gelding away well to lead in the early stages of the 2789m event before handing up to Puntarno Stride when passing the winning post the first time.

After a lead time of 93.6s, Puntarno Stride ran quarters of 31.5s, 29.6s and 31.9s. Dazzle Me worked one off at the 400m and finished off in a 30.2s final quarter to score by 2.5m over Messerati ($5.50) with Puntarno Stride ($9.50) a head away third.

The mile rating was 2:05.1s.

The win was the first feature race for trainer Wayne Yole since his return to the training ranks several weeks ago.

“I work at Ben’s stables six days a week, and I thought it was time to train a few myself and go out in my later years training a couple, and I’m enjoying it. It gives me something to look forward to, and I can be more hands-on,” the trainer said.

Yole said that Walters was confident heading into the St Marys Cup, where the pacer was leading before the race was abandoned, and that they were expecting a forward showing in the Burnie feature.

“We thought he could lead, and I told him to take a sit if he had to, and he settled him in, and they just bowled along good. The horse was full of running, heading to the back, when he popped out, and that was it.

“He likes the long distance, and he just keeps trying,” said Yole.

Dazzle Me was having his fifth start since arriving from interstate, with his previous racing being in New South Wales and Queensland.

“He has always been a handy horse and was bought with a view of running in the country cups. Hopefully, we can get another one, and that’s what we will aim for now.

“He is a great standing start horse, and we are lucky here in Tasmania that we have them,” explained the trainer.

The Country Cup circuit continues in Hobart this Sunday with the New Norfolk Pacing Cup, which will be held on the thoroughbred track, while the open-class pacers will contest the $40,000 Hobart Pacing Cup.

For complete race results, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing