By Andrew Adermann
Albion Park track record holder Sennachie took out the Group 3 Golden Ticket at Albion Park last night with a blistering win over up-and-coming bitch Sequana.
Sennachie led comfortably from the jump, establishing an early two length gap and unlike their heat battle a week earlier, there was no late charge from his rival.
The one-and-a-half length win secures his entry into the $235,000 Group 1 Gold Bullion Final on Friday, January 10 at Albion Park.
In what was a bitter-sweet night for the champion, Sennachie came agonisingly close to breaking his own track record with his 29.39 second run falling 0.01 seconds short of his previous best on-course.
Sequana’s trainer, Michael Zammit, was full of praise for star chaser Sennachie, who he has been taking care of during the dog’s Brisbane campaign.
“Considering he probably went a length slower to the first post than when he ran the record, it’s a sensational run,” Zammit said.
“Maybe I did too good a job looking after Sennachie!
“It’s a big effort for a dog to run a track record and he looks like he’s going well enough to break his own record if things continue to pan out right.
“I’m obviously really proud of Sequana as well.
“She’s run her best ever time in 29.48, probably two lengths better than her previous best.”
Elsewhere in the head-to-head match-ups, Nangar Diva set the pace early with a 29.89 second run to comfortably defeat Dynamite Lucy.
Ash Star, who fell away by four lengths early, came home with a wet sail to pip Cooper Dooper on the post in 29.76 seconds, subsequently setting the time to beat with two match-ups to go.
Snags McKenzie or Fernando Blaster never threatened the lead time in the third match-up, with the former claiming the win in 29.97 seconds.
Sennachie’s 29.39 second effort obliterated the previous times, with Sequana’s 29.48 comfortably securing her second place overall.