The elite 12 Pacers emerge

By Michael Howard (HRV)

ID2022 Pacing heats – Geelong

The final strides of the SENTrack Inter Dominion pacing heats flipped the script, with Petes Said So and I Cast No Shadow launching into contention and unseating unlucky Torrid Saint and Majestic Cruiser for places in this Saturday’s Group 1 final.

It was a drama filled scramble for points at Geelong last Saturday night, but at the top end it was an Emma Stewart domination, the trainer sweeping the last night with Honolua Bay, Act Now and Mach Dan all delivering dynamic front-running performances.

By contrast, key rivals Better Eclipse and Spirit Of St Louis disappointed, running 10th and 11th in their respective heats, and while they’d banked sufficient points on nights one and two to advance, there is still plenty to play out.

Better Eclipse broke at the start of the opening night’s heats, finishing last but also placing him out of the draw and potentially hampering his final hopes.

Spirit Of St Louis appeared well placed in the one-one, particularly coming off an extraordinary performance on night two, but he faded in the run to the line and finished 23 metres off the pace.

Soon after stewards released word a post-race vet exam revealed he had recovered slowly and trainer Belinda McCarthy’s camp would conduct a blood test and an endoscopic exam in coming days.

Add in Monday night’s all-important barrier draw, to be streamed live on Sky Racing 2 and TrotsVision from 7.30pm, and a drama-filled week looms.

But for now, the spotlight deservedly shines on Stewart’s camp, with Saturday’s heat winners also topping the series points.

Honolua Bay completed a perfect series with an all-the-way win in the opener, with David Moran allowing Torrid Saint and Alta Orlando to battle early before sliding past the former to lead.

As mentioned, key rival Better Eclipse’s race was run only moments after it started, and that was the most of the race’s drama.

Honolua Bay had control and reduced it to a run to the line, getting home in a 54.5-second last half that was brisk enough to hold off the chasers in a pack finish.

“He was good,” Moran told TrotsVision. “Clayton (Tonkin) and Emma have said he’s come through all the runs really good. He’s just getting stronger and stronger with every start really.

“The 2500 didn’t really bother him too much, he did it pretty good. He does seem to be a better horse from behind, but he’s just started to switch on now.”

Lauriston Bloodstock’s Honolua Bay won ahead of Perfect Stride, who flashed to the line along the sprint lane for his best result of the series, while Zeuss Bromac boxed on well for third, clinching his final place. He held Torrid Saint in fourth, which would oust the latter from the final 12 on a countback, while Better Eclipse’s 25 banked points meant his last placing wasn’t fatal for his series hopes.

Stewart also had a grip on the second heat, with Bruce and Val Edward’s Act Now continuing his outstanding front-running record with driver Jodi Quinlan.

She was able to see off The Black Prince’s early challenge in a lead time 1.4 seconds quicker than the first and there would be little reprieve, with Expensive Ego sitting on his outside for the final mile.

In large part the brisk pace could be attributed to the leader according to his reinswoman.

“He overraced a little bit too much for my liking than he normally does,” Quinlan told TrotsVision. “Had to shake him up out of the gate when The Black Prince tried to cross and it sort of set him alight a little early and he didn’t really want to settle.”

A 29sec first quarter was followed by a 28.9sec second, and then Act Now got motoring with a 27.4sec third that would have the chasers gasping.

Expensive Ego was game but didn’t threaten in the run home, however, Bundoran emerged from three back in the running line with a withering run to go within a short half-head of clinching the victory. At extreme odds, Amanda Turnbull’s entrant produced a successive second placing that will have him looming as a final smokey.

Beyond Delight’s fifth placing would also see him advance, but well-rated Majestic Cruiser’s campaign was snuffed out, with his seventh placing leaving him a point shy of final qualification.

For Quinlan, the winner gave her a first Inter Dominion Pacing Championship starter and, fittingly, he’s an entire with whom she has a deep connection, having steered 16 of his 17 victories.

“He doesn’t have to lead (to win),” she said. “He has shown he is versatile, but you hope for a good draw so you have plans A and B.”

Mark Pitt and Geelong owners Danny and Jo Zavitsanos produced a second successive win with Mach Dan.

Having motored past Expensive Ego to score at Shepparton, at Geelong he made all the running, sliding forward after Petes Said So and then I Cast No Shadow worked early to gain critical pegline runs.

Mark Pitt and Mach Dan were able to set their own tempo, with little pressure from Narutac Prince on their outside, and after the brisk lead time they were able to balance up through the last half.

A 27.6sec third quarter spilled into a 27.4sec run to the line that would see the running line fade, with Narutac Prince (eighth) and Spirit Of St Louis (10th) failing to fire but both having banked enough points to advance.

Instead the story belonged to New South Wales pair Petes Said So (KerryAnn Morris) and I Cast No Shadow (Jason Grimson), whose hard-earned great positioning paid dividends as they ran into second and third, just a tick over two metres in arears of the winner.

The subsequent points would catapult them into the final 12, Petes Said So comfortably on 29 points and I Cast No Shadow on a countback.

While there was drama all around him it wasn’t felt by Mach Dan, whose win completed a clean sweep of victories by female trainers, seven of which were registered by Stewart and the remainder by Belinda McCarthy (Spirit Of St Louis, Night 2) and Jess Tubbs (Better Eclipse, Night 1).

“He’ been super,” Pitt said of Mach Dan post win. “Come through his first run good, then his next was a lot better and tonight I think he was better again. I’m really looking forward to this Saturday night.

“I’m super excited to be able to get the opportunity to drive this horse. He’s a great little racehorse. I think he can (win), obviously the draw’s going to be a big thing but I think he’s a really live hope.”