RESONATE heads into the Saturday’s final of the bet365 Hunt Cup at Oxford as fastest in the event so far after Kevin Hutton’s bitch blasted to victory in the second semi-final of the 650m Category One at the weekend to not just set the standard in the competition but secure her place in the £10,000 decider.

Racing to a 15.14sec split, the July 2023 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Jetstream Lynx soon had a stranglehold on the six-bend contest and, while her rivals kept on well in behind, the local bitch still had a length to spare over Java Joan (Seamus Gaughan) at the line, with outsider Remember Betty (Matt Dartnall) crossing the line in third. The winning time was 39.45sec (-20).

The victory of the well-bred two-year-old, a half sister of the sensational Susie Sapphire, the Irish Derby and Oaks winner, delighted trainer Hutton who is hopeful his runner can hit the lids running come the final at a track she flourishes at, having also made the final of last year’s bet365 Hunt Cup there, finishing third to Vhagar.

“She’s been a lovely bitch for the kennel, a real favourite here, who’s very much like a pet as she sits and gives you her paw!” said the Burford-based handler.

“This will be her third Category One final after the (Coral) Brighton Belle and the (bet365) Challenge Cup, also at Oxford.

“We purchased her from Damian Matthews as we trained her mother Jetstream Lynx a good few years ago, as well as a daughter called Jet Stream Angel, so we know the line well.

“She wouldn’t have a terrific win record but is capable of maybe pinching this final if it goes her way, as it did in the semis, but it looks wide open.”

The first semi-final went to the Seamus Cahill-trained Powerhouse Duke who showed great pace up, riding a bump en route to leading the charge, and putting those behind under pressure.

However, both Ballymac Madgie (Shaun Gresham), a Hunt Cup finalist last year, and The Other Winx (Maxine Locke) stayed on with real purpose to get within a head and a length of the winner, from the same kennel as last year’s Hunt Cup winner Hogans Hawk, with Powerhouse Duke stopping the clock in 39.69sec (-20).

Trap draw for Saturday’s bet365 Hunt Cup Final – Oxford: 1 Java Joan, 2 Powerhouse Duke, 3 Ballymac Madgie, 4 Remember Betty (m), 5 The Other Winx (m), 6 Resonate (w).