Eye Wish and Uptown Chance come up tops at Wagga

Star filly Eye Wish (Bettors Wish) maintained her unbeaten harness racing record but only just in a thrilling finish in the Heat of the Nutrine Equine New South Wales Breeders Challenge at the Riverina Paceway at Wagga on Friday.

Eye Wish had created an enormous impression in her outstanding debut at the Wagga track two weeks ago and was installed a hot despite the presence of talented filly Applauding.

Nathan Jack was determined to lead with Eye Wish and the filly was able to cross with ease when Brad Hewitt on Applauding decided to take a trail behind the leader.

Shezaglamourgirl who won her first start at Echuca commenced well but she was caught racing outside Eye Wish. Eye Wish was able to run the first two quarters in 29 and 30.7 seconds so there was an expectation that the final two quarters would be run at a fast pace.

Jack allowed Eye Wish to run a fast third quarter of 27.6 seconds but Applauding continued to stalk and on the final bend she went for an inside run. Even so Eye Wish looked to be holding on but Applauding made a late dive and in a desperate finish Eye Wish prevailed by half a head from Applauding with Shezaglamourgirl over ten metres away third.

EYE WISH SEP 19 REPLAY

Eye Wish was bred by Jackie Gibson of Success Stud and she will now head to the semi finals at Menangle on October 11 with the hope of qualifying for the Group 1 $150,000 Final at Menangle on October 25.

Applauding has been placed at her only three starts in top company and she will also be prominent at the later stages of the classic. Shezaglamourgirl who was forced to race outside the leader battled on gamely even though she was well beaten however with an easier run she will be a stronger competitor.

Meanwhile an early race scrimmage paved the way for Uptown Chance (Downbytheseaside) to claim his victory in the Colts and Geldings division of the Nutrien Series.

Trained by Steven Lee and driven by promising young reinsman James Locke, the bay colt was taken straight to the front and that proved to be winning factor. The Wicked Warrior broke up shortly after the start inconveniencing Tappy, Seaside Sid and second favourite Bogdanavic.

This left Uptown Chance clear of Set Play early with the others well back when the field settled down.

UPTOWN CHANCE SEP 19 REPLAY

However Set Play gave driver Amy Diebert a torrid run behind the leader pulling very hard, over racing and racing roughly.

Second favourite Bogdanavic fresh from his New South Wales Challenge Blue Final at Menangle, was back near the rear and settled one out and one back while Victorian challenger Tappy had little luck racing outside the leader.

Uptown Chance had a clear lead on straightening and never looked in danger but the eye catching run was Seaside Sid who spotted the leader a decent start on turning for home and finished strongly to go down from three metres with Tappy losing no friends in third place.

Uptown Chance rated 1.53.9 the same time as Eye Wish in the fillies division.

The dam of Uptown Chance was the New Zealand bred mare Chance who was a tough race performer winning 17 races with 24 placings from 91 race appearances and with a best winning mile rate of 1.50. Chance raced mainly in New South Wales and Uptown Chance is the fourth of her living progeny and at this stage probably the best performed with more to come.

Seaside Sid will be improved by that effort. Bogdanavic failed to show much dash in the home straight and he will now be spelled.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink