Tim O'Connor
It’s status quo but with an asterisk as Act Now reaffirmed his standing amid the IRT Australia three-year-old colts and geldings’ class, but the sharks are circling.
In Jodi Quinlan’s hands the Victoria Derby champ was commanding in the first semi-final, stretching his winning streak to five for trainer Emma Stewart and owner-breeders Bruce and Vicki Edward.
However, Quinlan was well aware that Monday night’s barrier draw would be integral, particularly after Beyond Delight was outstanding in running Act Now to within two metres and another stablemate, Major Moth, looms dangerous after impressing in winning the second semi-final.
“(Act Now) probably is the horse to beat on paper, which he’s proven this time in,” Quinlan told TrotsVision. “A lot comes down to barrier draw and tempo of the race.
“If he draws a back row don’t discard him, he can sprint. If he gets a cart in I’ve always wanted to see him driven that way with one run, I think he would sprint off the bend very, very quick.”
And, importantly, Quinlan was clear that much was in reserve tonight, with Act Now able to roll along in a 61.2-second first half before streeting home in 26.7 seconds.
Beyond Delight was an eye-catcher, finishing within a length after advancing from almost the rear of the field at the bell, but Quinlan was cleat the winner had petrol in reserve.
“He just ambled along tonight. He was very relaxed and he just did what he had to do,” she said.
“He still had a fairly hard run last start, so it’s nice to get a softer run tonight going into the final. Tonight I didn’t have to ask him, I didn’t pull the earplugs, what he did tonight he did on his own terms.”
Stewart followed the quinella in the first semi-final with the winner in the second, when Major Moth was able to lay in wait behind leader Dessie Gee before striking via the sprint lane.
While American Dealer made good ground out wide to run second and Yambukian slogged on gamely in the breeze to qualify, Major Moth’s trademark burst delivered him the 2.2-metre win, with Tuppence also impressive up the inside to run into the placings.
Having paired to win the Breeders Crown as a two-year-old, reinsman Damian Wilson was well satisfied with Major Moth’s performance.
“As it turned out we got the right run and the sprint lane came early enough,” he told TrotsVision.
“He is starting to get better. He had a bit of a freshen up before the heat last week, but he seems to be hitting the line good and feels super at the moment.
“If he gets the right draw and Act Now gets a bad draw he’ll be right in it. Beyond Delight went super tonight too, he made up a heap of ground out pretty wide and looked like he did it pretty comfortably too, so they will be very hard to beat the three of them.”
