Michael Howard
The final strides of the Inter Dominion pacing heats flipped the script, with Petes Said So and I Cast No Shadow launching into contention and unseating unlucky Torrid Saint and Majestic Cruiser for places in Saturday’s group 1 grand final at Tabcorp Park Melton.
It was a drama-filled scramble for points at Geelong last Saturday evening, but at the top end it was an Emma Stewart domination, the trainer sweeping the last night with Honolua Bay, Act Now and Mach Dan all delivering dynamic front-running performances.
By contrast, key rivals Better Eclipse and Spirit Of St Louis disappointed – running 10th and 11th in their respective heats – and while they’d banked sufficient points on nights one and two to advance, there is still plenty to play out.
Better Eclipse broke at the start of the opening night’s heats, finishing last but also placing him out of the draw and potentially hampering his final hopes.
Spirit Of St Louis appeared well placed in the one-one, particularly coming off an extraordinary performance on night two, but he faded in the run to the line and finished 23 metres off the pace.
Soon after stewards released word a post-race vet exam revealed he had recovered slowly and trainer Belinda McCarthy’s camp would conduct a blood test and an endoscopic exam before the
final.
But for now the spotlight deservedly shines on Stewart’s stable, with Saturday night’s heat winners also topping the series points.
Honolua Bay completed a perfect series with an all-the-way win in the opener, with David Moran allowing Torrid Saint and Alta Orlando to battle early before sliding past the former to lead.
As mentioned, key rival Better Eclipse’s race was run only moments after it started, and that was the most of the race’s drama.
Honolua Bay had control and reduced it to a run to the line, getting home in a 54.5-second last half that was brisk enough to hold off the chasers in a pack finish.
“He was good,” Moran told TrotsVision. “Clayton (Tonkin) and Emma have said he’s come through all the runs really good. He’s just getting stronger and stronger with every start really.
“The 2500 didn’t really bother him too much tonight, he did it pretty good. He does seem to be a better horse from behind, but he’s just started to switch on now.”
Stewart also had a grip on the second and third heats, with Bruce and Val Edward’s Act Now continuing his outstanding front-running record with driver Jodi Quinlan and Mach Dan winning the last of the qualifiers for Mark Pitt and Geelong owners Danny and Jo Zavitsanos.
After heats at Ballarat on November 26, Shepparton on November 29 and Geelong at the weekend, the top 12 points-getters through the series will now take their place in Saturday night’s $500,000 Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Grand Final at Melton.
ID22 pacing championships final standings:
Finalists: Honolua Bay 48, Act Now 43, Mach Dan 43, Expensive Ego 37, Bundoran 33, Zeuss Bromac 30, Narutac Prince 29, Beyond Delight 29, Petes Said So 29, Better Eclipse 27, Spirit Of St Louis 26, I Cast No Shadow 25.
Emergency: Torrid Saint 25.
