Next Saturday's M Lambe Birmingham Cup Final promises a thrilling contest, with five finalists separated by just fractions of a second in their semi-final performances, ranging from 28.00 to 28.08.
The first semi-final saw Unanimous Leon, trained by Tom Heilbron, burst out of the traps with a 3.41 split and take the race in 28.06 seconds. Tricky Wiggles secured second place after overcoming a rough run.
In the second semi, Kevin Hutton's Rioja Bungle narrowly overtook Long Fellow in the final strides. Long Fellow, clocking a 3.45 early split, used his inside position well to lead at the first bend but couldn't maintain the pace, allowing Rioja Bungle to snatch victory in 28.03 seconds.
The fastest time of the night came in the third semi-final, with Aayamza Sydney timing a late surge to overtake Darley Diglake. Darley Diglake had taken the early lead with a 3.41 split, but John Mullins' charge, Aayamza Sydney, finished strong to clock 28.00 and secure the top spot.
With three early pace-setters and three strong finishers, the final is shaping up to be a fierce battle to the first bend and a nail-biting finish. The close times suggest an incredibly tight race, making this a must-watch event!