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It is not often to see a harness racing two-year-old dominate against a field of older pacers.
However that was certainly the case at Penrith recently when star juvenile My Ultimate Barney (Downbytheseaside) demolished his more experienced rivals, scoring by 28 metres and rating 1:53.6, just a second off the 1720m track record.
Trainer Jarrod Alchin used the race as the final hit-out before taking him to Queensland for Saturday night’s $500,000 Protostar to be run at Albion Park.
Driven by Cameron Hart, the colt never appeared to be out of second gear after finding the front early and was merely given a shaken up over the final 200m, running the last quarter in 27.1 seconds.
Following a scratching, My Ultimate Barney will now start from gate five in the Protostar and Alchin is quietly confident that his colt has what it takes to win the feature but admits it will take all of Hart’s skills to be able to overcome his wide draw against such a star-studded line-up.
“He could not have done anymore at his two runs back from a spell, and has travelled up here well,” said Alchin.
“The wide draw is not ideal over the short trip, but Cam is one of the best of his craft and I know that whatever option he takes at the start, will be the right one.
“My stable has been blessed to have the support of Scott and Jodie and their Tumby Park enterprise, providing us with so many nice young horses to break in and train for them.
“They have well-bred stock, whether produced from their owns mares or if they purchase yearlings from the sales like this fella.
“Either way I am certainly the fortunate benefactor, and it would be great if are able to pick up another big race for them.”
Fellow New South Wales pacer Sweet On Lexy could not have been more impressive taking out last Saturday night’s Paleface Adios Classic, scoring by a head after racing without cover but he too must contend with a wide draw in the Protostar.
For complete race entries, click here.
by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW
