Hardman Chasing Paws Of Thunder Honey

SUPERSTARS came crashing down in the heats of the Paws Of Thunder and trainer Mick Hardman is hoping for the same come the rich final next weekend.

SUPERSTARS came crashing down in the heats of the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder at Wentworth Park on Saturday night and Parkesbourne trainer Mick Hardman is hoping for the same come the rich final next weekend.

Pre-post favourite Aston Rupee was bundled out after finishing last to Irinka Riley and noted strong finisher Zipping Kyrgios was overhauled by Where's Rocky in two major upsets from the heats.

Mick will run Chase Me Honey (Fernando Bale-Nangar Miss) in next Saturday night's final and the in-form bitch has drawn out in the eight box.

Chase Me Honey ran 29.74 to win her Paws heat and Mick is the first to recognise how well she is racing.

“She is racing really well,” he said. “I thought passing the 700 boxes in her heat when she was trapped three wide she would struggle, but she won like a good dog.

“To be honest, she will need luck to win the final, but she is in terrific form and has pulled up fantastic.”

Chase Me Honey pulled up better than Mick himself.

“I got home from Wenty at 3am and was back up at 5.30,” he said. “But, this morning I put her out in the big paddock and she was feeling great. In fact, she was jumping out of her skin.

“She will go out into the paddock every day before the final, but will also slip up the straight behind the drag on Tuesday and Thursday.”

Mick and “The Sketchy Few” will be lining up for their second successive Paws final having run second last year with Zulu Warlord.

“I bought the entire Fernando Bale-Nangar Miss litter, all six of them, when they were 11 months old,” said Mick.

“I ran Chase Me Honey through the Magic Maiden as a pup and the boys asked me if they could buy her.

“We did the deal and I get a pup out of her litter when she retires.

“All six in the litter can run and Analysing has also been a Group 1 finalist (Peter Mosman Opal).”

Of the Paws of Thunder final, Mick is not getting carried away.

“Wow is a champion and I think he can jump straight to the front and win,” he said.

“But, dogs like Do It, Jungle Deuce and Bandit Ned will all be tough to beat. It is a fabulous final field.

“But, I am also very happy for the boys who owns her, James Shoobridge, Matt Knobbs and John Gosis.”

Mick had gone to school with Matt and John and had not seen them for 30 years.

“If this bitch had drawn over near the rails she would be right in the final,” said Mick.

Paws Of Thunder (520m)

1 Wicked Flash

2 Do It

3 Irinka Riley

4 Jungle Deuce

5 Wow

6 Bandit Ned

7 Where's Rocky

8 Call Me Honey

Reserves:

9 Fernando Hunter

10 Qwara Bale

Summer Distance Plate (720m)

1 By Five Helen

2 Hank The Hustler

3 Zipping Virginia

4 Untapped

5 Tap Out Sniper

6 My Margarita

7 Mepunga Ruby

8 Stanley Road

Reserves:

9 Nimble Lulu

10 Impatient Devil

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