Team Dailly Take Charge in Hume Cup Heats

Team Dailly made a powerful statement at The Meadows tonight, dominating the Group 1 Hume Cup heats with three winners from the six heats.

Ascend Ecstatic was the standout, producing her first 600m victory at The Meadows in eight attempts – and she did it in style.

The Team Dailly-trained chaser stopped the clock in a best of the night 34.37 seconds, storming over the top of Nigel Devere in what many have described as one of the strongest Hume Cup heats we’ve seen.

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Ascend Ecstatic (5) runs down Nigel Devere (1) as the fastest Hume Cup qualifier in a time of 34.37 seconds.

The opening heat produced the upset of the night when Ned McDonald’s Accredited powered home from last, circling the field before defeating Sweet Sundown in 34.66 seconds.

Pre-race favourite Tim Zoo finished third after struggling to overcome his tardy beginning in his first 600m run at The Meadows.

Accredited (8) won the opening heat over Sweet Sundown (2) in a time of 34.66 seconds.

Shadows Of Blue delivered another spectacular last-to-first performance, railing through the pack before charging away from Ethanol Secret in a time of 34.37 seconds.

Shadow Of Blue (7) wins the second Hume Cup heat over Ethanol Secret (1).

Urana Xavier muscled his way into the Hume Cup final with a tough, gritty 34.65 victory over Summer Quinn.

Urana Xavier (4) won heat three of the Hume Cup over Summer Quinn (6) in a time of 34.65 seconds.

NSW visitor Magpie Hector continued his brilliant middle-distance rise, flashing late to defeat Paw Petrov and Key Philosophy in 34.53 seconds.

Magpie Hector (8) wins heat four of the Hume Cup over Paw Petrov (6) in a time of 34.53 seconds.

Team Dailly’s night was capped off when Zelda Covilha pinged the lids with a slick 8.99 first split and never looked back – adding another heat win to the kennel.

Zelda Covilha recently won the Group 3 Adelaide Derby before placing third in the Adelaide Cup.

Zelda Covilha (8) won heat five of the Hume Cup over Paw Vortex (7) in a time of 34.50 seconds.

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