Sweet It Is seems to have this week’s Schweppes Summer Cup at her mercy after her 13 lengths heat win on Saturday night in 41.55sec, a mere 0.02 outside the track record set by Xylia Allen on April 12.
But experts on Saturday night agreed that Sweet It Is’ performance had more merit than Xylia Allen's because the track was "on fire" in April and was certainly a tad slower on Saturday.
Bought by Braden Finn for $95,000 early this year, Sweet It Is has now amassed $600,565 and will boost this by $25,000 if she wins next Saturday night’s Cup final.
Punters accustomed to seeing Sweet It Is at the rear of the field were stunned to see her in second spot with a lap to go and when she was so close everyone at the track knew the course record was in jeopardy.
Sweet It Is has drawn box two in the final and while trainer Darren McDonald was hoping for box eight he won’t be too concerned.
"I was really pleased with the way she came from box one and pushed Zipping Rory, who had box two, out of the way at the first turn," McDonald said.
McDonald made the 12 hour drive from his kennels on race day and left to complete the return trip immediately after Sweet It Is had won on Saturday night.
Top local trainer Jason Magri, who assisted McDonald on Saturday night, was in awe of Sweet It Is after the near record heat win.
“A few minutes after the race she looked ready to go around again,’’ an astonished Magri said.
Box draw for the Summer Cup final is: 1. Beks 2. Sweet It Is 3. Dusty Moonshine 4. Greta’s Rescue 5. Joane 6. Avondale Maurick 7. Zipping Rory 8. Zipping Maggie.
