Pacing Cup a stepping stone to a massive 4YO season

Dee Roe (Art Major) will use Wednesday’s O’Sullivans Transport Elmore Pacing Cup at Bendigo as a final harness racing run before a break ahead of a plan to target some of New South Wales’ biggest four-year-old pacing features.

The Aaron Dunn-prepared colt will have a short break after the $10,000 event before taking on the March 1 Chariots of Fire at Menangle.

“He is going good and is at the top of his game,” Dunn said.

“This will be his final run before a little bit of a breather and then I will head towards the Bonanza and the Chariots of Fire, if he is good enough.”

The winner of over $75,000 has been knocking on the door of a metro win without breaking through.

“He has run some nice places, but he hasn’t won a metro races,” he said.

“He won the SA Derby heat but drew wide in the final.”

The Horsham based horseman weighed up gelding the son out of Ark Monroe but was advised against.

“He is by Art Major and some people say the colts out of Art Major don’t perform as well after that or go worse – so I didn’t,” he said.

“A couple of times I thought he could have shown more in the final stretch, but of late he has been flying home and has been doing better with the sit.

The now three-year-old will target the Bonanza and the Chariots next year with a number of stablemates.

“I will give him a light break after this and hopefully I can bring him back to a non-metro race,” Dunn said.

“I will give him a run at Melton as a first hit-out then head to the Bonanza or Chariots (of Fire). I will probably take Forty Love and the filly, Sweet Nikki Lou as well.”

Jackie Barker is set to pilot the colt with the duo drawing seven for the 2150m trip.

“I do think I might retire and let Jackie (Barker) do the driving,” Dunn laughed.

The squaregaiting feature on the card is the Community Bank Elmore, Lockington and Rochester Trotters Cup.

The Jennifer Douglas-prepared Mitchell Wrap and the Chris Lang and Sonia Mahar trained Thunda Struck will share joint favouritism for the $10,000 event.