Lightning move by Laugher was just “magic”

An aggressive drive by Victorian reinsman Jack Laugher was the ticket to Magic Mike NZ (A Rocknroll Dance) claiming harness racing victory in the opening event, the Allied Express Pace, at Melton Entertainment Park tonight (Nov 11).

The former Kiwi pacer overcame an inauspicious barrier 10 draw thanks to Laugher’s perfectly-timed run.

Rueslan (Craig Demmler) pinged to the front in the 1720 event, but eased the tempo in the middle stages and Laugher pounced with a lighting sprint by Magic Mike from the 600 metre point.

“They were just going too slow for us. There’s no point sitting back on him and letting them walk around,” Laugher said.

“He’s been racing pretty good and I wasn’t worried about having to put him in the race.  I knew we weren’t going to get the breeze from Nathan (Captain Braveheart). In a way it was good they were going so slow because we were able to get up around them pretty easily,” he said.

Magic Mike trained by Julie Douglas, scored by 2.2 metres from Rueslan and favorite Magnetic Terror (Kate Gath), who was restrained from his outside front barrier position, but was unable to run down Magic Mike.

Jack Laugher and Magic Mike take out the Allied Express Pace for Julie Douglas. pic.twitter.com/yhXf0mylY3

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) November 11, 2023

It was the 12^th career win for six-year-old Magic Mike, who brought his earnings to $173,000, but only his second victory this season.

“Sometimes in the past I’ve questioned his desire to win, I have to say, but from a business point of view he has been a good buy,” Laugher said.

Magic Mike was purchased by Eric and Heather Anderson and is raced by them with a group of stable owner

For complete race results, click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink