Trotters progress to ID22’s big dance

By Tim O’Connor (HRV)

There was high drama at Beckley Park Geelong as key pieces to the SENTrack Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Grand Final fell into place on Saturday night.

It took a stewards’ hearing before the field of 12 for the $250,000 showdown on December 10 could be decided, while a major cloud emerged over series favourite and Kiwi champion, Bolt For Brilliance.

Connections of Sleepee waited through some nervous moments when Brittany Graham, driver of fifth-placed Majestic Harry, argued interference rounding the home turn, which threatened to cost the Alison Alford-trained trotter a spot in the decider.

Luckily for them the protest was dismissed and Sleepee – as well as Majestic Harry – progressed to the Grand Final next Saturday night.

Sleepee only qualified for the feature on a countback ahead of emergency Swiss Miss and Anywhere Hugo, sneaking in courtesy of her third placings at Shepparton and Geelong.

Bolt For Brilliance produced a game run for second behind the night’s opening heat winner Just Believe, but was subsequently found to be lame in the near foreleg.

Harness Racing Victoria stewards will require a veterinary clearance prior to the Tony Herlihy-trained squaregaiter taking his place in the final.

The TAB reacted to the news, with Bolt For Brilliance pushed out to $3 for next weekend’s race.

Just Believe’s front-running half-neck victory on Saturday night capped a flawless run through the heats for trainer Jess Tubbs and driver Greg Sugars.

“I probably didn’t want the race to be any further. He (Bolt For Brilliance) was wearing me down on the line and we know he’s obviously an outstanding horse. He was the most well credentialed horse coming into this series, so it’s really pleasing that we’ve got one on the board up against him anyway,” Sugars said.

“He’s a versatile horse so we don’t have to draw to lead to say we’re a winning chance, but it will certainly help.”

Veteran trainer-driver John Justice won an Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Grand Final with Shakamaker in 2000 and gets a good look at the trotting version with Mufasa Metro.

The former Kiwi led and held off a brave challenge from Brent Lilley’s star mare Queen Elida to win the second of the third-round heats at Beckley Park by a head.

It lifted him up the overall standings for an eventual fourth-placed finish behind Just Believe, Bolt For Brilliance and Queen Elida.

“He’s a lovely little horse and he deserved to win a heat,” Justice said.

“I thought for a minute there was going to be an upset – the mare stuck to her task well – but he doesn’t give up this horse.”

Justice doesn’t believe Mufasa Metro requires a good barrier to win the Grand Final.

“It’d help, but he doesn’t need one. He just needs a good run,” he said.

There had been some question marks about Majestuoso’s place as a genuine contender in the Grand Final after only managing third placings in heats at Ballarat and Shepparton, but he made a real statement with a dominant 7.9m triumph on Saturday night.

The Andy Gath-trained multiple Group 1 winner put in some rough strides during the score up, but got away well and eventually worked to the front. With a good trip at the head of affairs, he finished the 2570m journey in style and cleared out to win comfortably over Powderkeg and Sleepee.

“He went well,” driver Kate Gath said.

“He got out of the gate pretty good and done everything pretty good, so I’m looking forward to seeing how we go next week.

“I’m happy where he’s at and I think he’ll get a little bit better this week, too. His work was good leading into this series, but after his races he pulled up like he was a little bit underdone.

“This week hopefully he’ll be a little bit better…”