Racing: Better To Be Bad trials in style

Better To Be Bad warmed up for her tilt at the $25,000 Waikouaiti Cup with a win at the Forbury Park trials on Wednesday.

The Badlands Hanover mare, starting off a handicap of 25m, beat seven rivals in a 2200m handicap pace in a corrected time of 2.47.3.

The 5yr-old, driven by Andrew Faulks for trainer Steve Ashton, was three lengths clear of Everton VC, with another two lengths back to Mad Hatter.

The 2200m qualifying mobile pace produced four qualifiers, including three for Waikouaiti trainer Bruce Negus. The Negus-trained Highland Reign, a half-sister to Temudjin (six New Zealand wins), paced the 2200m in 2.50.3, a half-length clear of the Graham Bartlett-trained Verdun. The other two qualifiers for Negus were Fancy Delight, a 3yr-old Washington VC filly and The Shakey Mistress, who is the first daughter of Pay Me Christian to qualify.

Results.-
Weather, fine; track, fast.
Qualifying mobile pace, 2200m: Highland Reign A Faulks 1; Verdun 2; Fancy Delight 3. Four started. L, 1L, 1L. Time, 2.50.3 (four qualified). Trainer, B Negus.
Qualifying trot, 2200m: Bono Hest A Faulks; Lady Hest 2. Two started. 3L. Time, 3.10.6. Trainer, A Faulks.
Qualifying pace, 2200m: Heavenly Creature J Cox 1; Jay Cee Mac 2. Two started. 16L. Time, 3.01. Trainer, K Dance.
0-5w special handicap pace, 2200m: Better To Be Bad (25m) A Faulks 1; Everton VC 2; Mad Hatter 3. Eight started. 3L, 2L, 5L. Time, 2.47.3. Trainer, S Ashton.
0w mobile pace, 2200m: Rescarn A Malcolmson 1; Halfmoon Bay 2; The Jinja Ninja 3. Three started. 1L, 4L. Time, 2.53.3. Trainer, R Straight.
1-2w special handicap trot, 2200m: Armori G McLay 1; French Desire 2; Forrest Heights 3. Five started. 1L, 1L, 5 1/2L. Time, 2.53.3. Trainer, G McLay.
0w trot, 2200m: Feather Boyz A Malcolmson 1; Speedy Success 2; Maple Twist 3. Six started. 4L, 3L, 17L. Time, 2.55.6. Trainer, E Lamb.