BEFORE start of this year’s Orange Cup, Neil Staines said the outcome of the $3,000 to the winner feature would hinge on the first bend at Kennerson Park.
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“This is an evenly matched field and it all depends on how the dogs jump and where they possie up at the first bend,” he said.
As it turns out, the Yass trainer who won the 2011 Orange Cup with Country Rebel was correct.
One of Staines’ two finalists – Slamming Thunder ($3.40) – was fourth through that bend after going from box seven on Monday afternoon.
Though she made up ground before the finish line of the 520 metres race, she could not catch Kilkee May ($3.10 favourite).
Courtesy of a good jump from her box one draw, she was first into the bend and went on to post an all the way win for Spring Terrace trainer Shannon Kirby.
She was around six lengths clear of the chasing pack as she balanced in the back straight.
The Kinloch Brae x Sweet Melon bitch finished 1¼ lengths clear of Stanies’ runner, equalling her personal best time for the distance as she stopped the clock in 29.98 seconds.
Third belonged to Utah Miss ($5.80), who was a further three lengths back for Eschol Park owner-trainer Joseph Satti.
It was win 10 of Kilkee May’s career and continues her impressive Kennerson Park form. She now has four wins and three placings from seven runs at Bathurst.
