Sitting On Eight and Kiki Meister impress in Ladbrokes Classic Heats

Smart gelding Sitting on Eight (Downbytheseaside) scored one of his most best wins when he finished too strongly to take out the first harness racing heat of the Ladbrokes Sunshine Stars Yearling Sale Classic for two year old colts and geldings at Albion Park on Friday evening.

New South Wales visitor Pure Grunt was installed as a hot favourite and when Will Rixon guided him to the front it looked a matter of how far. Pete McMullen promptly decided to take the trail behind the leader and they looked a class above the other four runners.

Pure Grunt looked to be cruising as they straightened but when McMullen took him off the fence he responded and raced right past Pure Grunt to score by three metres with Opallane in third place.

Sitting On Eight who is trained by Donny Smith returned 1.54.2 for the 1660 metres.

SITTING ON EIGHT NOV 7 REPLAY

New South Wales took out the honours in the second heat when the Rickie Alchin trained Kiki Meister (Bettors Delight) ran them off their legs to lead all the way in a fast 1.53.2.

In yet another small field of six runners, Kiki Meister had too much speed to sail to the lead. In running his third quarter in a slick 27.5 seconds Kiki Meister burst away from his rivals and he comfortably held off Timmyteo and My Ultimate Zander who both made up ground without looking likely to trouble the winner.

KIKI MEISTER NOV 7 REPLAY

Kiki Meister is lightly raced with three wins from just six starts and gives every indication that he will improve with racing. The $125,000 final at Albion Park on November 15 will be keenly contested and the barrier draw will be important. While the two heat winners have strong prospects, Pure Grunt has the ability to turn around his second placing in the heat.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink