Dan delivers a track record time in Inter Dominion heat

Mach Three gelding Mach Dan stamped his authority on this year’s Inter Dominion harness racing series winning a heat at Shepparton tonight (Nov. 29).

Following a third placing in the first round of heats just three days earlier, Mach Dan won his qualifier in track record time clocking 1:51.9 for the 1609m test.

For the ‘record’ the previous record was 1:52.5.

Driver Mark Pitt urged the five-year-old forward and when there was no lead with I Cast No Shadow taking that spot, Mach Dan was forced to race outside the leader.

Cover eventually came when Inter Dominion favourite Expensive Ego worked his way three-wide to the ‘death’ seat.

Mach Dan overcame the final two quarters of 27.1 and 28.6 seconds to beat Expensive Ego by a half-neck with a fast-finishing Act Now in third.

“He was super sharp,” said Pitt.

“Plan B was to be on the back of Expensive Ego and that’s how it worked out.

“He was good, he’s a casual customer but when he came off Expensive Ego’s wheel, he really knuckled down.”

MACH DAN REPLAY

This success gave trainer Emma Stewart three heat wins in this Inter Dominion Pacing championship with Act Now and Honolua Bay taking out their respective qualifiers at Ballarat last Saturday night.

Of the beaten brigade in this heat, reinsman Luke McCarthy said of Expensive Ego: “He was good at Ballarat and even better tonight and he’s pulled up fantastic.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Amanda Rando, for Harnesslink