Vrontios charges into final with mighty win

TALENTED stayer Vrontios made his way into the state final of the National Distance Championship with an arrogant win in his heat over 720m in Launceston last night.

Vrontios ($2.20 fav) was poorly away from box five and settled worse than midfield behind the leader Bluegrass Moss (4), which held sway to well into the back stretch, with the second-elect Bobby Bound ($2.50) third and chasing hard.

When the leader capitulated the Kevin McConnontrained favourite stormed clear and went on to score comfortably from the Butch Deverelltrained Wynburn Lucifer, with Bobby Bound third ahead of Tom Tom Drum.

The winner ran the trip in 42.58, a personal best for the son of Lochinvar Marlow.

Eketahuna ($2.20) from the Morrie Strickland kennel took out the remaining heat ahead of Country Shadow ($2.20 fav) and they blitzed their rivals Kao De Khan and Rocki De Khan, which finished third and fourth respectively.

The winner clocked 43.94 — well over a second slower than Vrontios recorded — but Eketahuna has drawn box one in the final while Vrontios must contend with box six.

The in-form Buckle Up Rosie ($4.70) equalled her personal-best time on the track (29.68) to win her state heat of the National Sprint series over 515m. The Gary Johnsontrained bitch led and held sway over the Butch Deverelltrained Apollo Blue ($2.60 fav) to score by more than two lengths with Cashmeera third.

Dooper made his way into next week’s final with a narrow but game win in his heat, defeating Gold Lenny and Outsider Take Guard in a threeway photo-finish with only a nose separating them all.

Dooper stopped the clock at 30.20 after he was hampered in the home straight, but gave Deverell two runners in next week’s final.

Former Tasmanian Derby winner Two Bills returned to form with a game win in his heat clocking 29.80, defeating Amo Bailar and Jack’s Missile.

The national final will be run at Sandown in Victoria on August 24.