Hannah's ready to step up to 630m, says Errol

Hannah’s ready to step up to 630m, says Errol

May 24, 2024

Caption: Beerwah trainer Errol Kleinhans with his consistent chaser Ultra Hannah after victory at Bundaberg on Monday. The sprinter steps up in distance at Ipswich on Saturday night. (Photo: Uncle Rustys Photos)

Weekly wrap of racing at Ipswich with MIKE HILL

ERROL Kleinhans is confident his reliable chaser Ultra Hannah is ready to step up to a longer trip.

Ultra Hannah is one of six runners in Saturday night’s $7000 Rosewood Veterinary Service 0-3 wins event at Ipswich attempting the 630m for the first time.

Only the Kerry Hoggan-trained Auburn Lee has raced over the distance.

“My little girl is ready to step up,” said Beerwah-based Kleinshans.

“She runs a strong 520m and she had a good win (over 460m) at Bundaberg on Monday.”

He said he hadn’t planned on running Ultra Hannah over 630m just yet ‘but when they were seeking additional noms I decided to give it a go’.

“She’s bred to run a bit of distance,” Kleinhans said.

“Her mum (Elusive Star) won over 600m and 710m at Albion Park.”

Ultra Hannah’s Bundy win earlier in the week was full of merit after she had to weave her way through the field.

And it followed four successive placings at Bundaberg (twice), Albion Park and Ipswich.

“She’s a tough little girl,” the trainer said.

“She likes to get to the rails, so in most of her races she does cop a few bumps.

“But I’m hopeful.”

Ultra Hannah has drawn box four in the seven-dog field and Kleinhans said having the vacant box five on her outside would be a definite help.

“She’s fit and healthy and ready to go,” he said.

“She should come out well and, if she can jump and get to the front, I don’t think they can catch her.”

Meanwhile, Thagoona-based trainer Noel Evans said he was going into the race with some confidence in his charge, Hara’s Heidi.

“She hasn’t got a great deal of ability, but she is doing everything right,” he said.

Hara’s Heidi has a win and three seconds from her past six starts, including runner-up to Last To Know at her most recent outing over 600m at Albion Park.

Evans said that effort had boosted his confidence although he did admit his chaser had been a bit lucky in some of her recent runs.

“Some of the other dogs have done things wrong while she’s kept going,” he said.

“I think she’s a good each-way possibility and she could lead.

“If that happens the dog in two (Edgar Cloggs) could run her down.

“However, if she can run out the 630m, she’s a chance and if that’s the case I’d like to step her up to 710m in the future.

“A couple of her litter have performed over the longer trip.”

Evans was referring to Hara’s Skipper – a 600m winner at Cannington and a place getter over 595m at Sandown and 680m at Warragul – and Motivational, a 710m winner at Albion Park.

Ex-Victorian Edgar Cloggs is having his fourth run for Redbank Plains trainer John Bradley.

Edgar Cloggs (Mepunga Blazer -Arabella Figg) was narrowly beaten over 520m at Ipswich at his first appearance for Bradley late last month and was runner-up over 531m at Bundaberg earlier this week.

Auburn Lee – a seasoned performer with eight starts over the 630m trip – has four seconds and a third and is obviously one of the main chances.