Late Night News Sends Stern The 715 Message

LATE Nights has maintained favouritism for next Friday night's The Ladbrokes 715 after clearly setting the time standard for the $250,000-to-the-winner staying showpiece on Thursday night.

Stepping out for the first time since falling in the final of the Group 1 Association Cup (720m) a fortnight ago, the son of Fernando Bale showed no ill effects from that tumble, roaring away for an 8 ¼ length heat romp over Autumn Storm in 41.60.

The slashing performance was enough for bookmakers to install the top flight stayer as a $2.40 favourite for next week's decider after he drew precariously in box seven.

Following his heat effort, trainer Caroline Hughes was full of praise in the performance.

"After the last episode I just wanted to see him get out there and do his thing and he went fantastic," Hughes said.

"He came through the fall a lot better than we all did. I was lucky enough to be able to bring him up here (to The Gardens) to trial and he went really well and backed that up tonight.

"Really looking forward to next week's final."

On the strength of his slashing heat win, Late Night News appeared to have a mortgage on the finale, but a tricky box seven draw has thrown the race slightly ajar.

The opening heat was annexed by grand Tasmanian campaigner Raider's Guide which led throughout to score in 41.78.

The two–time group 1 winner, which finished fourth in the race last year, was underdone for the series but demonstrated plenty of courage to defeat heavily backed favourite Max Capacity by 3 ¾ lengths.

Runner-up to Apilla in the recent Association Cup, Max Capacity was disappointing on face value, but from box four in the final, has been installed the second favourite at $3.50 where he will get a chance to atone.

Raider's Guide, which just last week turned four years of age, will exit box five in the finale, where he is at $4.40 in early markets.

The remaining qualifier went the way of South Australian visitor Time To Fire which defeated Heart Reign by three lengths in 41.85.

Trained by Damien Smith, who tasted Group 1 Association Cup glory with Apilla just two weeks ago, Time To Fire has drawn box three for the final in what will be just his second distance start.

Finishing third in Time To Fire's qualifier was Newcastle Cup winner Gully Girl which scraped into next week's final from box eight.

THE LADBROKES 715 (Friday, May 2)

1. AUTUMN STORM $7
2. WINIFRED NORA $41
3. TIME TO FIRE $17
4. MAX CAPACITY $3.40
5. RAIDER'S GUIDE $4.40
6. HEART REIGN $51
7. LATE NIGHT NEWS $2.40
8. GULLY GIRL $12
9. APILLA $5.50
10. LADY WILSON $12