The Scott Spackman trained O’ So Hazy is headed for the Country Championships Final after taking out the SDRA Wagga Qualifier on Sunday. The 4 year old mare defeated Bennelong #(15) by 0.23 lengths and in the light blue in the middle, the Chris Heywood trained Class Clown into 3rd place by 0.25 lengths in a very close finish. The top 5 horses home were within .8 of a length of each other.
O’ SO Hazy and Bennelong Dancer have secured starts in the Country Championship Final after running the quinella in a qualifier thriller at Wagga Wagga on Sunday. A capacity field of 16 lined up for the $150,000 Country Championships Qualifier (1400m) and most were still in the contest inside the final 200m.
There was only a length separating the first seven horses over the line but O’ So Hazy, trained by former Harden man Scott Spackman and the $3.60 favourite ridden by Brooke Sweeney, held off all challengers to score a brave win, nosing out from the fast-finishing Bennelong Dancer who bookies had at $15. The Chris Heywood trained Class Clown $101 was centremetres away from heading to Sydney with Spackman’s mare. With Spackman and Heywood cousins, it would have made for a great day at Randwick on April 7.
O’ So Hazy and Bennelong Dancer are now exempt from ballot for the $500,000 Country Championships Final over 1400 metres. O’ So Hazy has firmed into $26 and Bennelong Dancer is at $51 with TAB Fixed Odds for the Country Championships Final. Goulburn heat winner Kopi Luwak is favourite at $4.60 ahead of Port Macquarie qualifier Victorem and Suncraze at $6. O’ So Hazy scored her fifth win from seven starts this campaign, taking the lead at the top of the straight and warding off her rivals for a narrow win. “This means everything to us,’’ an emotional Spackman said. “What the mare has done this campaign is unbelievable I said to Brooke she can get the trip, it was just a matter of riding her right.’’
Sweeney was able to get O’ So Hazy to settle on the speed before the mare took the lead at the top of the straight and refused to surrender her margin, despite being under siege in the final 200m. “She just kept on fighting,’’ Sweeney said. Bennelong Dancer came from near last at the top of the straight and gained a split between runners late to grab second right on the line, booking a trip to Royal Randwick next month. “It’s a real thrill to get into the Country Championships Final,’’ trainer Graham Hulm said. “She drew so badly out in 17, this mare just can’t draw a barrier but she has got home beautifully to get second.’’
Scott talking with Sky Racing after the win.
Nick Heywood didn’t make the winner’s circle this meeting, however picked up a 5th placing on Leucura in the 1000 metre Whirlwind in Race 5 for father Chris Heywood and a 4th placing for Gratz Vella in race 6. Nick was home in 6th place on Delivered in the SDRA Country Championships Qualifier over 1400 metres. The main race was a very tight affair with the first 15 horses less than 4.07 lengths off the winner, the top 8 under 2 lengths off the winner, with less than one length separating the top 5, and half a length the top 4 horses.
O’ So Hazy was foaled in 2013 and the 4 year old mare by O’Lonhro out of Yes Vaigly has been a revelation since joining the stable with 5 wins, 2 second placings and 2 third placings from 10 starts. She has been out of the money just once, coming in 8th of 8 runners at Gundagai.
All roads now lead to Randwick for the Spackman stable.
Scott has been described as a ‘part time’ trainer by some media. The term ‘part time’ does not enter into what Spackman does with his horses. He is as serious as any trainer in the SDRA. He keeps a number of horses in work and his efforts are vindicated by the success he has had on the track with the likes of Takookacod, Didn’t Even Kiss Me and Chastity Strikes. After sufferring a terrible back injury several years ago, Scott continues to drag himself from his bed early each morning to pursue what he loves. Well done Scott.