Historic dead-heat by Eagle and Blue Tosca

PENANG:  July 10, 2011
Jockeys of EAGLE (left) and BLUE TOSCA both flash the V-sign, happy to share the honours

EAGLE and BLUE TOSCA battled to a historic dead-heat in the RM500,000 Sprint Trophy over 1400m here today.

It was the first time two horses have shared honours in the premier sprint here in Penang since it was first run in 1981.

They also provided their respective trainers Thomas Gillespie (EAGLE) and Stephen Cook (BLUE TOSCA) with their career first big win.

Both horses were well off the pace in the early running with EAGLE in the rear. They were switched out wide making the turn into the straight finished the race wide out.

The favourite HOT BUTTERFLY looked good at the top of the straight when she took narrow lead. But she failed to hang on as EAGLE, ridden by Jackson Low, and BLUE TOSCA, the mount of Martin Wepner, raced past her.

At the end of a thrilling finish, the pair could not be separated by the camera. A dead-heat was declared. GOOD JUDGEMENT pipped HOT BUTTERFLY to claim third placing.

Prior to today, BLUE TOSCA has yet to win in the top class but had shown vast improvement this season with three wins and five placings from nine starts. Today's win was his seventh overall.

For EAGLE, it was remarkable effort as the distance was considered too short for the gelding, having finished third to RISKY BUSINESS in the Yang Di Pertua Negeri Gold Cup (2200m) last December and second to GOOD NATURE in the Selangor Gold Cup (1600m) in April.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1

 JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION TROPHY
  CLASS 5 - 1400M      

2

 Better Gold R Lines J Low

1

3

 Flapjack Robert Salee

2

1

 Brave Commander S Liew L L Tai

3

6

 Natural Performer B Ng E G Da Cruz

4

2

 THE LINNEYS JEWELLERY TROPHY
  CLASS 4 - 1200M      

8

 Black Genius Robert J De Souza

1

2

 Trump Player Tiang K Eirwan

2

3

 Royal Adviser P S Kumaran J Low

3

1

 Olympia Flame T Gillespie S Mutaza

4

3

 DURHAM LODGE TROPHY
  CLASS 4 - 1200M      

8

 Money Trap K L Chong Woodworth

1

1

 Blue Spirit J H Tan J De Souza

2

10

 Pagsanjan S H Tan E G Da Cruz

3

7

 Feared Wong Zaidi

4

4

 LYNDHURST STUD TROPHY
  CLASS 3 - 1700M      

14

 Century Flyboy Tiang H S Gill

1

5

 Earl Grey E Breukelen I Fadzlei

2

9

 Ace Amigo Danis C K Tan

3

6

 Flying Speed K Coetzee Azhar

4

5

 JAPAN BLOODHORSE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION TROPHY
  TABLE 1 - 1400M      

4

 Mudhish A Selvaratnam N Cunha

1

6

 Joint Effort S H Tan E G Da Cruz

2

1

 Free Spirit K L Chong J Shankar

3

2

 Breadwinner Sukri Aify

4

6

 SPRINT TROPHY - 1400M

6

 Eagle T Gillespie J Low

1

10

 Blue Tosca S Cook Wepner

1

4

 Good Judgement K Coetzee E G Da Cruz

3

7

 Hot Butterfly K Coetzee Azhar

4

7

 AUSHORSE MARKETING TROPHY
  CLASS 3 - 1200M      

7

 Aranda K Coetzee Aify

1

10

 Good Flying K Coetzee Azhar

2

1

 Century Lord Tiang K Eirwan

3

6

 Confrere R Lines Chavez

4

8

 CLASS 5 - 1400M

1

 Fire General P K Leong Saifudin

1

4

 Good Good News R Lines J Low

2

6

 Ultimate Fighter Hoy A Chew

3

5

 Only One Will Win K Hughes N Cunha

4