Three locals will line up against five visitors in next Tuesday night’s group 3 Townsville Cup final.

            Five heats were run last night. Locals won two heats with Henry Parker’s Cherokee Bob in 28.91 and Robert Olsen’s Georgee Go Wing in 28.88 for the 498 metres course.

            Ron Ball, visiting from Prenzlau in the Locker Valley, won with Rando’s Rocket in 28.75 and Miss Milkshake in 29.02. Ball had second placings with Tough As and Cool Trick and their times were quick enough to qualify for the final.

            Glen Olsen’s popular Townsville sprinter Herman John made it to the final with his second placing to Rando’s Rocket.

            Geoff Allen’s top Albion Park performer Hanson Senor (pictured) had little trouble beating three rivals in a scratching marred heat in 28.75 which was the equal fastest time of the night. Allen rates Rando's Rocket as hardest to beat in the final. ''I guess any of Ron's runners will be testing material, he's a top trainer.

            Ron Ball won the Townsville Cup two years ago with Mr. Metz.

            ‘’I brought five runners up this year. The idea is to hopefully cover the expenses of the plane trip on the opening night and anything I can win next week is the bonus,’’ Ball said.

            ‘’You don’t get many races around of $25,000 to the winner, that sort of money is too good not to make the effort to participate.’’

             The box draw for the final is: 1 Hanson Senor, 2 Cool Trick, 3 Rando's Rocket, 4 Tough As, 5 Miss Milkshake, 6 Herman John, 7 Cherokee Bob, 8 Georgie GoWing, Res: 9 Bogie Magic, 10 Here's To You..

            At Ipswich last night, the Reg Hazelgrove trained Wise Forecast accounted for the Young Guns field in easy fashion, scoring by five lengths in a slick 30.48.

            The Ipswich Futurity is the likely next mission for the daughter of Bombastic Shiraz and Whirly Storm.

 

Story by Paul Dolan, photo by Corey Pearce.