Timmy Rictor sweeps to stylish win in Autumn Gift

Promising pacer Timmy Rictor (Modern Art) gave his harness racing supporters some anxious moments before he swept down the outside to take out the Autumn Gift Final at Menangle Park last night.

A short odds on favourite Timmy Rictor was expected to lead from barrier 3 but showed little speed early to race back in the field. Instead his stablemate Supa American showed dazzling speed from out wide to take up the running. However Sweetheart Bart went around the field to put the pressure on the leader. No Heart Throb had the one out and one back trail with Island Bouhinia who made full advantage from the pole position to take the trail behind the leader.

TIMMY RICTOR MAR 22 REPLAY

Timmy Rictor was well back early but driver Jack Callaghan didn’t seem too perturbed as allowed him to sit four back on the outside.

The leaders had run an electrifying first quarter of 25.7 seconds so it was obvious that they could not keep going at that pace.

Sweetheart Bart took over but he was a sitting duck for the rest of the field as No Heart Throb moved up to the lead. Timmy Rictor was following Diamond Eclipse. But once Timmy Rictor got going he finished too strongly for an impressive win over No Heart Throb with outsider Diamond Eclipse doing its best work at the finish for third.

Timmy Rictor who was formerly trained by Emma Stewart has now won his only three starts for Jason Grimson and he appears to have a bright future as he progresses through the classes.

Thanks to the fast pace set by Supa American, Timmy Rictor’s mile rate was 1.49.2.

Outsider Diamond Eclipse’s third placing was full of merit as he broke in the score up.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink