ID23 Pacing heats Round Three review

Gun NSW reinsman Cameron Hart may be wrestling with a difficult decision leading into next week’s Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Grand Final after Nerano (Tintin In America) completed back to back heat harness racing wins at Albion Park. 

NERANO REPLAY

Hart had Nerano ($2.20 fav) nestled three back along the pegs while his main danger Speak The Truth bowled along in the lead over the 2680 metre staying trip. 

Somehow Hart managed to extricate Nerano away from the pegs inside the last 400 metres and the six-year-old again produced a finale which was sufficient to overpower Spirit Of St Louis in a 26.8 last 400 metres. 

Prior to the ID23 Hart was locked away to partner the series second favorite Swayzee however Nerano’s past two brilliant heat wins have thrown a cloud over who Hart will partner in the Grand Final. 

“Yes, this bloke’s putting a good case forward,” Hart said. 

“He was super again tonight,” he said. 

Hart was buoyed by Nerano’s ability to fully run out the distance of the staying journey. 

“He was super strong tonight on the line which was pleasing going over the 2600 metres and to be still running through the line like that was a great performance,” he said. 

With second placings in his past two heats, Spirit Of St Louis has booked himself a berth in his third consecutive Grand Final. 

Greg Sugars is content Better Eclipse (Betterthancheddar) will be at his peak for next week’s Grand Final after the pacer took out his second heat win for the series. 

Sugars allowed Better Eclipse plenty of time to settle mid field in the running line knowing the $1.22 favorite Swayzee was locked away on his inside. 

When Sugars pulled put with 600 metres to travel, Better Eclipse rounded up his rivals to join the leader Classie Washington on straightening. 

With Sugars sitting quietly, Better Eclipse found the line with something in reserve scoring by a neck from Classie Washington with Swayzee savaging the line late in fourth place. 

BETTER ECLIPSE REPLAY

“We got a good trip and then he finished strongly and its pleasing to see he’s up to the challenge,” Sugars said. 

“He’s matured so much over the last 12 months and just dipping his hand into a few of the good races has really seasoned him and he’s a pretty all round horse now,” he said. 

Sugars said next week’s barrier draw won’t be an issue with Better Eclipse’s versatile style of racing. 

“Barrier draws aren’t really crucial for this one, sometimes he’s better off drawn badly depending on how the race is run,” he said.  

“We know we’re in with a live chance and I think the series is far more open than what a lot of people thought.” 

Series favorite Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight) maintained his unbeaten status during the heats with an effortless win the final heat. 

Grant Dixon made an early move to assume control and the only interest thereafter was in the margin as the Leap To Fame ($1.04) cruised to the line under a firm grip in 1:55.1, the fastest of the night. 

“He felt good so I thought he’s get up the straight pretty well, he’s amazing to drive just perfect,” Dixon said. 

LEAP TO FAME REPLAY

Dixon believes Leap To Fame is best suited by the longer distance. 

“To his credit he’s very versatile but I do think he thrives on the distance races,” he said. 

Like Sugars, Dixon believes next week’s Grand Final is far from a one or two horse race. 

“I think there are definitely four or five winning chances and it’s a lot more open than what people thought before the series started, there’s a few with a real genuine chance of winning,” he said.

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink