Kiwi pacer It’s Merlin (Art Major) has out toughed his harness racing rivals in the Group 2 Ainsworth Australian Light Horse FFA at Menangle tonight (Mar 09).
The son of Art Major started from the widest draw, did the most work in the race and then rattled off a 53.9 second last 800m to beat the race leader Rock N Roll Doo by a head, in a stunning display of speed and determination on Miracle Mile night.
Mark Purdon who did the driving for brother Barry was impressed by the performance.
“I felt Rock N Roll Doo didn’t appear to be travelling that well down the back and although I got three quarters of the way past him and he just held his ground until we got to the corner, and I didn’t worry about pushing him I just let him settle, but he knuckled down great up the straight,” Purdon said after the race.
“Just short of the line he stuck his nose out and he was tenacious right to the line,” he said.
Merlin ended up winning by a head at the line from Rock N Roll Doo with Max Delight running home well for third.
The winner ran the 2300m mobile in a quick 1:53.7 mile rate. The last 800m was run in 53.9 with the last 400m run in 27.2 seconds
For complete race results,Ā click here.