Fate Awaits bounces back in $500,000 Protostar

The Grant Dixon trained Fate Awaits (Always B Miki) bounced back from defeat to take out the inaugural running of the $500,000 Protostar 2YO Slot Race at Albion Park. 

Fate Awaits began well from the pole and Dixon was content to take the trail on the back of the $2.30 harness racing favorite The Highland Reel who ensured a genuine tempo mid race. 

Dixon elected to pull towards the outside of the track on Fate Awaits ($5) who dug deep in the home straight and reeled in The Highland Reel in the shadows of the post to score by half a head in a slick mile rate of 1:50.6. 

Dixon said Fate Awaits had been the focus of attention during the week after being beaten into fifth place in the Paleface Adios last week. 

“The team at home spent time on him during the week and we really couldn’t put his disappointing run down to too much apart from the way I drove him,” Dixon said. 

“Hopefully we’ve turned him around and to his credit he’s come good in a week,” he said. 

FATE AWAITS REPLAY

Dixon said he opted to adopt different driving tactics on Fate Awaits. 

“I haven’t driven him like I normally would and he’s such a good boy and I’m proud of him tonight because it’s the first time he’s had to sit in there like that and wear them down in the straight,” he said. 

Dixon was quietly confident the son of Always B Miki would test the clock if the race was run to suit. 

“After he trialled the other day I thought he could go 1:50,” he said. 

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink