Talented Bitches Blaze Into Taree Cup Decider

THE Taree track bounced back from flooding that forced the abandonment of its race meeting last week to “look a treat” with the heats of their Cup run on Wednesday.

The Richard Milton-trained Tigress Eye ran a slick 30.97 to narrowly hold off Jimary Spitfire by a neck with two lengths to Guided By Soul in third.

Surprisingly, hot favourite Zipping Vernon, which has drawn box one in a semi-final of the Golden Easter Egg at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, could finish only seventh in this heat.

Blake Moroney's smart bitch Ice Reina continued her fabulous recent form when winning the other heat in 31.12, leading throughout to beat Aston Sapporo by five lengths with Manton Blaze in third.

It was her fifth straight win.

Blake has only four in training and took Ice Reina to Taree last week to trial after the last in preparation for today's Cup heats but with the meeting washed out, he elected to run her at Gunnedah where she won easily.

“The 537 metres is a bit of a test for her,” said Blake. “She did have a few issues with stamina early in her career but she's getting it better now.”

Ice Reina split webbing back in November which put her off the scene and when she came back to racing was not at her best.

“A blood test found problems which we fixed and she has not looked back since,” said Blake. “She's come back with a bang.”

Of her chances in the final, Blake is optimistic with Tigress Eye drawn perfectly in the red.

“Tigress Eye is a very good bitch around Taree and that's always a big advantage,” he said.

But he still believes Ice Reina will be hard to beat.

“She's been foolproof from the boxes of late and that will help her,” he said.

“Generally she goes best when she is drawn on the even line. But she rates a great chance.”

Kempsey trainer Nathan Goodwin was high in praise of the Taree Club for getting the surface back to racing condition after the washout last week.

“The track looked a treat today,” he said.

“But, it was really only the top corner that was badly affected by flooding.”

Taree Cup Final (in box draw order): 1 Tigress Eye, 2 Guided By Soul, 3 Tatum, 4 Phantom Laurie, 5 Ice Reina, 6 Jimary Spitfire, 7 Manton Blaze, 8 Aston Sapporo. Res: 9 Zipping Brady, 10 Cundle Ally.

Silver Bullet Final (in box draw order): 1 Jimary Matrix, 2 Sunrise Trooper, 3 Pugsle's Girl, 4 Vicious, 5 Tiri Levi, 6 Wilson Place, 7 Young Kev, 8 Stash House. Res: 9 Tap Out Tiny, 10 Benissimo.