Act Now’s rollercoaster night at Melton Entertainment Park will go down in harness racing folk law, with the star pacer emerging from dramatic pre-race scenes to be crowned the 2023 Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup champion.
Trainer Emma Stewart and driver Jodi Quinlan claimed their first Vic Cup success with a horse who looked in serious danger of being scratched from the $300,000 Grand Circuit classic.
Act Now got his leg caught over a rail in the stalls early in the meeting, but was eventually passed fit to run by stewards shortly before the start.
With his place in the field confirmed, the five-year-old $81 outsider still needed to produce something truly special to win the race. And he did.
Act Now settled towards the rear from his wide back row barrier, then came with a scintillating three-wide run to swamp his rivals in the shadows of the post.
In a grandstand finish, the son of Somebeachsomewhere scored from Miracle Mile champion Catch A Wave and Queensland freak Leap To Fame, with less than 2m between the first six horses across the line.
“Unbelievable,” was how owner-breeder Bruce Edward described the drama in the moments after the triumph.
“10 minutes before the race we didn’t even know whether he was going to run or not.
“He had an accident in the stall, but the vets checked him out and said he was fine.
“He looked a bit angry going out onto the track and that’s exactly the way we like him.”
Like Edward, Quinlan used the word “unbelievable” to describe Act Now’s performance.
“What happened before the race I didn’t think he’d be going around when I saw him,” she said.
“He just travelled really kind in the warm up and was just trucking in the run.”
Defending champion Rock N Roll Doo found the lead after an early burn, but faded late to finish fourth, just a half-neck from the winner.
Saturday was one of Stewart’s greatest ever nights at the races, with the Victoria Cup wedged in between wins in two of the state’s most prestigious three-year-old features.
The champion horsewoman prepared the first five runners home in the Pryde’s Easifeed Victoria Oaks after David Moran combined with Sweet Bella to claim the $150,000 Group 1 over favourite Major Delight in a photo finish.
It also capped a huge evening for Edward, who races the filly with his wife Vicki.
Earlier, Stewart had the quinella in the Woodlands Stud Victoria Derby after Petracca outmuscled stablemate Perfect Class to prevail in the $200,000 classic.
Petracca, who is owned by Melbourne Demons-mad football fan Danny Zavitsanos, backed up his last-start Vicbred Super Series success with a second-successive Group 1 victory in a race that has been run since 1914.
“I just didn’t want to do too much work and luckily I was able to just poke around (from the back row). He’s just a beautiful horse to drive, he kept nice and settled for me,” driver Cam Hart said.
“It was just a matter of getting the right one to follow and Perfect Class, on paper, looked like it was going to probably move. He did and it worked out all good for us.”
