Cover Of Darkness defended his unbeaten record and looks set to give the TAB Breeders Crown three-year-old colts and geldings final an almighty shake, having recorded a fifth win from as many starts in today's Maryborough heats.

The Emma Stewart-trained Majestic Son colt survived a late challenge by No Biggie to win by three metres today and justify his $1.10 price for reinswoman Jodi Quinlan, who didn't hustle her contender off the gates.

Instead, Quinlan allowed Cover Of Darkness to find his feet before working to the lead and with a 57.3-second last half he found separation from his rivals, despite No Biggie impressing late when trainer-driver Emmett Brosnan extricated himself from three back on the pegs.

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It would have been a pleasing result for Quinlan, who knows much of Cover Of Darkness's potential but also his tricks, having steered him for all five of his starts for owners TSR Racing Group, Ben Prentice, Sue Murray, Anthony Shelly and Stuart Watt, as well as having had her hands on much of his extended family. 

The Australian Premier Trotting Sale graduate was bred by Martin and Kaye Hartnett out of Illawong Moonshine ($63,515), who is a full-sister to Yankee Spider ($317,657) and a half-sister to both Illawong Armstrong ($230,652) and Quinlan's promising three-year-old Illawong Stardust ($44,330).

Third-placed Sky Eagle and fourth-placed Glengarriff joined Cover Of Darkness and No Biggie in advancing to the Breeders Crown finals with today's top four finish.

They will be joined by Gimondi, Elite Stride, Red White An Bloom and Andover Sun, who advanced from the second heat but not without something of a surprise.

The two New South Wales entrants Elite Stride and Gimondi were dominant, but it was the latter who emerged late for trainer Blake Fitzpatrick and reinsman Greg Sugars to unseat the $1.60 favourite.

Trained and driven by Anthony Butt, Elite Stride had won nine of his 12 starts heading into today, including the Need For Speed Prince Final and NSW Trotters Derby, but Gimondi sat outside him for the final lap and toughed it out in the straight to win by a head.

The winner is owned by Ethan Hill and was bred by New Zealand's Ivan and Ann Behnes, who pared their dam Merckx with Denmark-bred stallion Peak, who stands at Alabar.

Powderkeg closed out the Catanach's Jewellers three-year-old trotting colts and geldings' heats with a continuation of his good recent form for trainer-driver Lisa Miles.

A Vicbred Super Series winner in only his third start, Powderkeg hadn't won since saluting in the February 28 Need For Speed Consolation final but got back on the winners' list at Maryborough today with a commanding victory.

On the back of second and third placings in the Victoria Derby heat and final, Miles confidently guided Powderkeg to the front of affairs and with an impressive 57.1-second last half the favourite upstaged his rivals to win by 6.4 metres from Rules Dont Apply, who again ran on well for trainer-driver Anthony Crossland.

Cracker Jet and Kyvalley Shaunie also advanced to the Group 1 final, having finished third and fourth respectively.

Owned and bred by Wyndown Stud, Powderkeg is by Muscle Hill out of Sparks Ignite, who's great grand-dam is the brilliant trotting broodmare Maori Miss.

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