3 Steps to Victory Trophy heats set the field for Tuesday's semi-finals
Sheffield hosted the Molson Coors 3 Steps To Victory Trophy last night. The top two finishers of each heat qualified for next Tuesday’s semi-finals.
Heat one
The first heat’s winner was England Expects, an 11-4 joint favourite, who won by 1 ¾ lengths over Blue Bee. Expects was quick out of the traps, took an early lead, and finished with a time of 27.88, the second best time of the heats.
Garrons Lass had a few chances to get ahead of second place throughout the race, but ended up settling for third by a ½ length. Proud Dodge took fourth ahead of the other joint favourite, Glenard Rocket, and Droopys Joyous finished last.
Heat two
Droopys Joe dropped out of the second heat and was replaced by 16-1 longshot, Merlins Myth, who took advantage of the sudden opportunity by taking second place, earning a spot in the semi-finals.
Winning the heat was 5-4 race favourite, Bower Hawk, who got off to the worst start of the group, but was able to take the lead on the fourth bend and stretch it to 3 lengths over Myth.
Rubio took third with Baran Colorado a neck behind in fourth and Masada Hawk a shoulder behind Colorado in fifth. Eden Dom finished in last place despite a good start.
Heat three
In the third heat 5-4 race favourite, Mustang Mission, took first with a time of 27.82, the best time of the heats. Wilfy Wells took second place, 1 ¼ lengths behind Mission with an equally impressive time of 27.92.
In third was Carbarns Tom, who had a better time than some of the other heat winners, but still failed to qualify for the semi-finals. In fourth was Lizzys Legend replacing Westmead Wings in the second trap. Fifth went to Munster Champ, and sixth to Blyton Lass.
Heat four
It was Head Iton Jason winning the fourth heat by a shoulder over Farloe Skywalker. Skywalker led after the first turn, but Iton John stayed close and took over the lead as they approached the finish line.
Third place went to 2-1 race favourite, Baran Pimlico, who failed to qualify for the semi-finals. In fourth was Fabulous Opera, and behind her was Razzmatazz in fifth. Last place went to Droopys Trevor, a replacement runner for Droopys Eugene.
Heat five
Even odds favourite, Moveit Jamie, was bumped on the first bend and couldn’t recover while Droopys Arshavin had similar trouble on the first bend, but was able to finish well, taking first place.
Behind Arshavin, in second, was Droopys Simon, and just a head behind Simon, in third, was Shades of Jonah. Fargo Blue replaced Big Ronnie Doppa in the second trap, and finished in fourth place. Ten Dollars More ended up in sixth.
Heat six
The final heat saw 9-4 race favourite, Farloe Rocket, propel himself to victory by a mere shoulder over Crown River. Rocket got off to a great start, but quickly lost the advantage, forcing him to fend off Rover for the duration of the race.
Drumcrow Marco took third, and a head behind him was Anfi Gem, who placed fourth. Swift Pit and Farley Totti took fifth and sixth respectively.
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