Adams has found his No. 1

LONDONDERRY trainer-driver Ross Adams has had his share of handy horses throughout a long career in harness racing.

His father Merv, who passed away in 2007, was a stalwart of harness racing in the Penrith district and was placed twice in Inter Dominion Grand Finals – in 1956 and 1962.

And while Ross can recall some special wins with some nice horses, he rates his filly Vincenzina as one of the best he has trained.

“This filly has mixed it with the best in her two seasons of racing and while she has narrowly missed winning a couple of big races, she has never let me down,” said Adams.

The daughter of Betterthancheddar has an almost-impeccable record as from 17 career starts, she has won seven and been placed a further seven times, her biggest win being in a Kevin and Kay Seymour Evolution Final earlier this year.

But some of her defeats have been among her best performances, including second placings in the J. L. Raith Memorial, the Young Oaks, the Bathurst Gold Bracelet and the Golden Easter Egg.

On Tuesday afternoon at Tabcorp Park Menangle, Vincenzina went a step closer to a possible feature race win with an impressive win in a qualifying heat of the NSW Breeders Challenge Series, defeating top Queensland filly, Pelosi by a half head with a last-stride win, rating 1.52.1.

“I have to admit, we had a beautiful run in transit, while Pelosi had to work a bit off the arm which allowed me to jump straight onto her back,” said Adams.

“She was then able to pick Pelosi up in the dying stages, my filly certainly knows where the finish line is.

“I went into Tuesday’s race feeling a bit confident as her first-up second at Penrith was good on a track that she isn’t overly keen on.

“She goes a lot better on the roomy 1400-metre Menangle track.”

Adams believes Vincenzina is exactly where she needs to be heading into the finals.

“We are hoping she can make the Final as being a smaller stable, it would be a feather in our cap if she could capture a Group 1 race,” he said.

Ross has runners in the last two races at Penrith tonight, namely Humming Top and Ima Shinkansen, but believes they will need a bit of luck to figure in the finish.

“Humming Top gets back in grade which will aid his chances,” he said.

• MICHAEL DUMESNY