Cadillac continued on his winning way when running 29.70 seconds, the faster of the two Exchange Printers Anniversary Cup heats (512 metres), at Tara Raceway last Sunday.

Cap Abbott of Edenhope owns and trains the son of Feral Franky and Establish who brought up his third successive win and his seventh overall this year at the local track when successful in the second heat.

Setting a cracker of a pace was Fireworks who came out running from box eight and led for most of the journey before Top Cadillac finished off strongly for a length win.

Fireworks had previously won at Tara Raceway back in March over 400 metres in a tidy 23.04 seconds. That was when Bushfield breeder Adam Richardson was training the daughter of Sennachie and Mepunga Dasha.

But the following month, Richardson, when looking for a break from training, had contacted Ross Creek trainer Mark Johnson – in charge of the 2023 Mount Gambier Cup winner Titan Blazer – to see if he would be interested in taking on Fireworks.

“She’s raced pretty well since making the switch,” Johnson said. “Then, a couple of starts back she changed ownership and is now raced by Tyson Trengove of Broken Hill.

“Her form at Warrnambool, Horsham and Bendigo leading up to the Anniversary Cup had been pretty good so I thought the step up to 512 metres at Mount Gambier might be worth a try.

“A smaller field and box eight certainly worked in her favour. With her early pace she was able to quickly cross the field and then give them something to catch. The time was good and she should be better for the run.”

Purified led all the way in the first heat of the cup when defeating Lektra Tony by two lengths in 30.04 seconds for Adelaide owner Lena Dureikina and Moorak trainer Jason Newman.

And after qualifying for the 2024 Mount Gambier Cup final won by Chapel Road, this is now the second cup final the daughter of Fernando Bale and Mepunga Spectre has reached this year at Tara Raceway.

Lektra Tony, stepping up to the 512 metre journey for the first time, displayed plenty of pace for Terang owner-trainer Mark Roberts and the son of Houdini Boy and Lektra Jena is another finalist who should be better for the run.

Trainers with finalists in this year’s Anniversary Cup, and who have previously won the event, are David Peckham (Aston Ziebell 2023), Tracie Price (Spring Cuervo 2020, Tandiki 2021, Giant’s Flash 2022), Peter Franklin (Mojito Mayhem 2015, 2016) and Cap Abbott (White Arrow 2012).

Complementing Sunday’s $8000 Anniversary Cup final will be the 20th running of the John Reid Memorial Maiden – back over 512 metres after sufficient nominations were received for the long-running feature to once again be run over its rightful distance.

Allendale East trainer David Peckham won the 2006 Reid Memorial with Bourne Destiny in a time of 31.31 seconds. In 2022 he was successful again, this time in 29.86 seconds with Lochinvar Cahill, raced in partnership with Kevin “KD” Douglas.

And following last Sunday’s heats, Peckham once again looks to hold a strong hand in the final with a couple of “Bourne” littermates in Bourne Franky and Bourne Model – by Feral Franky out of Sweet On Me and both on debut.

Bourne Franky never looked in any danger of defeat in the first heat, eventually running out a 9½ length winner over Laura’s Brandy in 30.27 seconds.

In running, Bourne Model looked to have the second of the two heats stitched up when opening up a handy break down the back. But the Peter Byrne trained Saint Raine kept finding in the home straight and grabbed victory by a half head in 30.39 seconds.

Saint Raine, a daughter of Bernardo and Saint Maddie and also bred by Byrne, went into the series lacking nothing in experience given that she was having her 24th start.

Actually, it was a good weekend for the litter after King Owen the previous night had won a heat of the Maturity for Koroit owner Mick Walsh.

Michael Wallworth’s Vega Black will be back for the Eric Lewis Memorial on Sunday after an impressive win in last Sunday’s Gambier Vets Open Stake (732 m).

The son of Cosmic Rumble and Black Eva was always on the pace before taking the lead turning for home and running out a 1¼ length winner over Redshift Uniform in 43.69 seconds.