Jack has last Laugh as Clear Left digs in

Jack Laugher admits he was fighting it out for second prizemoney on Clear Left (Art Major) as the harness racing field turned for home in the Catanach’s Jewellers Pace at Melton Entertainment Park on Saturday night.

Jackie Barker’s daring tactics looked like being successful when Layden dashed from midfield in the back straight to straightening more than 10 metres ahead of his rivals.

The effort ultimately took its toll and the Julie Douglas-trained Clear Left kept coming to grab the lead and score by a metre on the line from Layden and Big Boy Mal.

“I thought Layden may have gone a bit far from home, but he was still 10 metres in front at the top of the straight, so I kept driving my horse for second,” Laugher said.

“My horse lacks a bit of high speed, but he keeps trying and he kept going when the leader started to get tired.”

Later in the night, Laugher completed a stable double when he partnered Kosimo to a minor upset victory in the Nevele R Stud Pace.

Kosimo settled two horses back in the running line in the small six-horse field, trailing the $1.60 favorite Petracca who joined Yambukian in the lead around the home turn.

Kosimo ($16) eased out three wide and produced the stoutest finale to score by two metres from Petracca and Dhaulagiri.

Laugher said he was quietly confident prior to the race.

“I thought he could win in the small field as he wouldn’t be that far off them and he’s a good swooper,” he said.

“He travelled well and I thought I had the others at the top of the straight.”

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harness Racing Victoria