Things are heating up in the Otago Daily Times Southern Mile.
The second running of the series is nearing an end with just one heat to go before the $100,000 final at Wingatui on March 4.
John Blackadder-trained Ears Back claimed the early buzz for the final with victory in the ninth heat at Ascot Park on Saturday.
It was the 4yr-old mare’s third straight win, and second consecutive victory in the Southern Mile series following her success at Riccarton on January 28.
Ears Back leads the series with 20 points, followed by White Robe Lodge mare Burgie and Larpower (both 18 points), Caitlyn Jay (16), Seven Twenty, Sokanon (15), Capo Dell Impero, Poverty Bay (14), Mayor of Norwood and Pickens (13).
The final heat, a rating 75, is at Riccarton on Friday with a full field of 18 expected.
As it was last year, the series has been highly competitive, and winning a heat does not automatically guarantee a start in the final.
The limit for the final at Wingatui is 16 horses, and as it stands after nine heats, two heat winners will be on the ballot list.
There have been 133 total starters in the ODT Southern Mile this season — or 89 individual horses for an average of 14.77 runners per heat.
