Tim O'Connor
There was high drama at Geelong’s Beckley Park and across the weekend as key pieces to the Inter Dominion Trotting Championship grand final fell into place.
It took a stewards’ hearing on Saturday night before the field of 12 for the $250,000 showdown on December 10 could be decided, but it all changed on Sunday when series favourite Bolt For Brilliance
was ruled out due to injury.
The Kiwi champion was withdrawn from the Tabcorp Park Melton decider due to the discovery of a pedal bone fracture after his run in Geelong.
On Saturday night, connections of third-placed Sleepee waited through some nervous moments when Brittany Graham, driver of fifth-placed Majestic Harry, argued interference rounding
the home turn, which threatened to cost the Alison Alford-trained trotter a spot in the final.
Luckily for them the protest was dismissed and Sleepee – as well as Majestic Harry – progressed among the leading points-getters for the series.
Sleepee only qualified for the feature on a countback ahead of emergency Swiss Miss and Anywhere Hugo.
Bolt For Brilliance’s scratching then elevated Swiss Miss into the field and Anywhere Hugo to emergency.
Just Believe’s front-running half-neck victory on Saturday night capped a flawless run through the heats for Myrniong trainer Jess Tubbs and driver Greg Sugars.
“I probably didn’t want the race to be any further,” Sugar said. “He (Bolt For Brilliance) was wearing me down on the line and we know he’s obviously an outstanding horse. He was the most well credentialed horse
coming into this series.
“He’s a versatile horse so we don’t have to draw to lead to say we’re a winning chance, but it will certainly help.”
Veteran trainer-driver John Justice won an Inter Dominion Pacing Championship grand final with Shakamaker in 2000 and gets a good look at the trotting version with Mufasa Metro.
The former Kiwi led and held off a challenge from Brent Lilley’s star mare Queen Elida to win the second of the third-round heats at Beckley Park.
It lifted him up the overall standings for an eventual fourth-placed finish behind Just Believe, Bolt For Brilliance and Queen Elida.
“He’s a lovely little horse and he deserved to win a heat,” Justice said. “I thought for a minute there was going to be an upset – the mare stuck to her task well – but he doesn’t give up this horse.”
There had been some question marks about Majestuoso’s place as a genuine contender in the grand final after only managing third placings in heats at Ballarat and Shepparton, but he made a real
statement with a dominant triumph on Saturday night.
The Andy Gath-trained multiple group 1 winner put in some rough strides during the score up, but got away well and eventually worked to the front. With a good trip at the head of affairs, he finished the 2570m journey in style and cleared out to win comfortably over Powderkeg and Sleepee.
“He got out of the gate pretty good and done everything pretty good, so I’m looking forward to seeing how we go next week,” driver Kate Gath said.
