Dramatic Victoria Cup goes to 80/1 longshot

Five year old harness racing pacer Act Now (Somebeachsomewhere), ignored in betting at 80/1,  got the job done in an action-packed and dramatic Group One Prydes Easifeed Victoria Cup at Melton (Oct 14).

The feisty brown stallion kicked out in the stabling area before the race and scraped a hind leg, having to pass a vet’s inspection before taking his place in the field.

But that just encouraged driver Jodi Quinlan as she headed onto the track for the feature.

“He was rowdy when he got here and had a bit of a kick.  He was a bit angry and that’s the way we like him.  That’s the way he goes his best,” an elated Quinlan said after the race.

“Clayton Tonkin (partner of trainer Emma Stewart) knows these horses inside out and he was confident.  He just told me to go out, that I know the horse, give him a warm up and get him on the bit and see how he feels.  When you go out on the track you know from the way he feels, how he’s going to go and he felt great.

“He really was the forgotten horse of the race, but I always said if the race was run to suit and he got his chance, he’d be in it, and he was.”

As Quinlan observed, Act Now was unwanted by the good judges – sent out at an $80 chance in the $300,000 feature.

From a difficult barrier 11 draw, Quinlan and Act Now found themselves, not surprisingly, at the rear end of proceedings when the field settled.  With 500 metres to go, Quinlan pulled out for a trail up, but found herself four wide around the home corner.

In the run home, though, Act Now found his balance and overpowered his rivals, sweeping down the outside to snatch victory, giving the the Emma Stewart stable their first Victoria Cup win.

WHAT AN AMAZING VIC CUP – LET'S WATCH IT ALL AGAIN!🤯

Sit back and enjoy every step of the @PrydesEasiFeed Victoria Cup as Act Now produces an incredible win in a blanket finish, a huge result for trainer Emma Stewart and driver Jodi Quinlan. pic.twitter.com/OtestqdYFV

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) October 14, 2023

Owner Bruce Edward was thrilled with the performance.

“Unbelievable. I thought they were some of the best horses in Australia in that race, and he was giving them 30 metres start at the top of the straight – we’re just rapt,” Edward said.

“And the best thing is he had a baby brother born last night!”

Act Now’s dam Mollys Ideal was sent to Downbytheseaside last season – she has already been a wonderful broodmare producing Act Now, Talk Time (Captaintreacherous) a winner of six races and Castella Dellacqua (Captaintreacherous) for three wins.

Act Now got the nod from the judge in a three-way photo finish – a head clear of the brilliant Catch A Wave, whose run was phenomenal, and a further head to race favorite Queenslander Leap to Fame.  The race was run in 1:52.7 (29.3, 28.8, 27.3, 28.2).

What promised to be an outstanding race didn’t disappoint.  The field included four “millionaires” and two on the cusp of reaching that mark.  Nine of the 11 starters were previous Group One winners.

In the final analysis less than 10 metres separated all 11 runners.

For complete race results, click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink