He may have been the best performed pacer in the three harness racing heats but Goulburn pacer Captains Knock (Captaintreacherous) will need some luck after drawing gate 9, the inside of the second row, for next weekendās $500,000 TAB Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Grand Final.
On the other hand, champion horseman Luke McCarthy left Menangle with a huge smile on his face after his TAB Eureka winner Don Hugo came up with the perfect draw in gate three.
Don Hugo could scarcely have been more impressive tonight at Menangle winning the first of the round three heats.
He worked hard to find the front then raced away to score an emphatic win.
Captains Knock was also impressive but his trainer-driver Brad Hewitt will be tossing and turning about all the likely scenarios after his stable star drew the awkward gate nine, behind one of the series surprise finalists Jilliby Nitro, who drew gate one.
The final draw for next weekās $500,000 finale is:
1.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Jilliby Nitro (Bettor’s Delight)
2.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Dangerous (Sweet Lou)
3.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Don Hugo (Art Major)
4.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā My Moonlite Dream (Always B Miki)
5.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Curly JamesĀ (A Rocknroll Dance)
6.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Terry (Terror To Love)
7.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Jimartee (Sportswriter)
8.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Nerano (Tintin in America)
9.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Captains Knock (Captaintreacherous)
10.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Max Delight (Bettor’s Delight)
11.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Minstrel (Rocknroll Hanover)
12.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Petes Said SoĀ (Well Said)
by Michael Court, for HRNSW