Dodge brings heat in Geelong Cup stunner

With a withering burst General Dodge rewarded Mick Chircop’s deep faith and extraordinary patience, securing the harness racing trainer’s home cup and thrilling his reinsman and owners.

After being winter’s lauded star the lightly-raced eight-year-old’s campaign was well and truly back on track on Saturday night with a dominant performance against class opposition in the Flying Brick Cider Co. Geelong Pacing Cup.

The $60,000 Group 2 win in the Trots Country Cups Championship leg was greeted with a fence shake and fist pump from trainer Chircop, who told TrotsVision “I knew that he was on song”.

“He’s right on the job, he’s been brilliant in the last couple of weeks. He’s really stepped up,” he said.

It was a significant bounce back for General Dodge, who returned from a spell with a second behind Triple Eight after lighting it up at both ends, and then disappointed next start in the Kilmore Pacing Cup when he was the first horse beaten.

He followed with a last start eighth in the Victoria Cup, when he suffered interference, before reminding of his brilliance on Saturday night.

“We were pretty confident tonight that we would run a good race, probably didn’t expect him to quite do that, but I always had the belief that if the tempo was decent enough he would be in the finish,” his driver Jason Lee told TrotsVision.

Amazing Dream led from gate one and had Mach Dan on her hip throughout, with General Dodge three back in the running line.

Before the final turn Lee made his move three-wide, quickly drawing to the outside of the leaders and then General Dodge delivered a stunning burst, gaining separation and securing the win amid a 55.3-second last half.

“He’s definitely the quickest horse I’ve ever driven,” Lee said. “It’s very cool. Bit like driving a fast car or going on a rollercoaster I suppose, you are just hanging on for the ride and when you are still travelling and you know you are running, there’s no better feeling.

“I was travelling really good and we didn’t have to come (three wide) super early, which was a bonus. When we did come we were just absolutely jogging.

“I probably let him dart up to them pretty quick just so we got there before they did start to hum and even though I darted up to them we were still under a really good hold.

“I thought I had the leaders under control, I was just a little bit worried about Kate (Gath on Tango Tara) and just wanted to get a bit of a break on her before she got clear, but once he got asked he found another gear.”

General Dodge saluted by 4.3 metres, with Amazing Dream boxing on well for second, holding out Tango Tara who finished close behind to fill out the placings.

Watch the replay here:

By Michael Howard for HRV