Nowhere Creek wins heat of the Junee Pacers Cup for Ellen Bartley and Blake Jones

Bartley qualified two pacers through to the $14,000 Phoenix Accounting & Business Services Junee Pacers Cup Final (2170m) in the heats at Junee on Tuesday night.

Stable newcomer Nowhere Creek ($5.50) continued his impressive form with victory in the opening heat.

It was Bathurst visitor Kanena Provlima ($3.50), driven by Blake Micallef, who proved too tough for his opposition in the second heat, holding off the fast-finishing Beau Brown ($15) to score by a half head.

Bartley secured her second finalist when Rocky Branach finished fifth behind Kanena Provlima.

Bartley was thrilled with the performance of Nowhere Creek, who recorded his fourth win from just six starts since joining her stable.

"Ever since he got here, he keeps taking the next step," Bartley said.

"Every race we've thrown him in he comes out and runs super. I'm really, really happy with him."

An early mid-race move from Blake Jones helped Nowhere Creek land the coveted one out, one back position from the second row draw. From there, he out-sprinted his rivals to score his third straight win.

Rocky Branach edged out stablemate Imperials Gem for the last spot in the final in the second heat. Bartley was happy with the five-year-old's effort.

"On the short back-up, to make the final when he didn't have to do a lot of work, I was happy with that," she said.

"He will need a bit of luck in the final, he's a funny horse but hopefully we can get a good draw with him."

With a preferential draw system in place for the final, Bartley expects Rocky Branach and Nowhere Creek to both start from out wide on the front row on Monday night.

Jones will stick with Nowhere Creek, while Bartley is likely to take the drive on Rocky Branach.

"I would have liked to have drawn a bit better so we're going to need some luck," she said.

"I do think Nowhere Creek is good enough to win, the way he's going, and I don't think it's as strong a field as previous years."

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