Speak The Truth Photo by Dan Costello
THE barrier draws have certainly added some spice to Saturday night’s last round of Inter Dominion pacing heats at Albion Park.
They stretch to the 2680m – the same distance as the finals a week later – and most talk centres around whether Swayzee can get back into the winner’s circle from barrier one in heat nine.
Swayzee was beaten for the first time in 11 runs for trainer Jason Grimson when forced to try and make up loads of ground three-wide in blistering closing splits and only third to exciting local Speak The Truth over 2138m last night.
The New Zealand Cup and Blacks A Fake winner certainly isn’t known for his early speed, making gate one less than ideal.
There is plenty of speed outside him, and driver Cam Hart will be looking to angle away from the inside as soon as he can, much like he did from inside the back row last night.
Swayzee’s main rival will be the Jess Tubbs-trained Better Eclipse, who followed a terrific win on opening night with a fighting second to Swayzee’s stablemate, Nerano, last night.
“He couldn’t go any better than he did (last night),” driver Greg Sugars said. “He was just outsprinted by a very fast horse who had the sit on him.”
Better Eclipse didn’t fare well in the barrier draw, landing the back row (gate 10).
Final favourite and local pin-up pacer Leap To Fame will have to overcome another bad draw (gate seven, outside the front) to be the only pacer to take a clean sweep of the heats.
Grant Dixon’s star had to dig deep to narrowly beat Spirit Of St Louis and Our Money Rocks in slick time last night.
“It was a harder run than we would’ve liked; I just hope it doesn’t take too much out of him,” Dixon said.
Leap To Fame is the standout class runner of his race, and the stretch to 2680m will suit him ideally.
Nerano has been one of the finds of the series with a second to Leap To Fame on night one and a sparkling win last night.
Cam Hart has options from gate one on Saturday night, given Nerano’s gate speed.
Speak The Truth, who led throughout to upset Swayzee last night, is drawn well again in gate three.
“The longer distance will suit; he’s a terrific stayer,” driver Adam Sanderson said.
Spirit Of St Louis ran sixth on night one and second last night but will still need to run well from a bad draw (gate seven) to secure a spot in the Grand Final.
The two unbeaten trotters of the series – Just Believe and Ollivici – will lock horns over 2680m on Saturday night.
Just Believe has the big advantage of gate three, while Ollivici has barrier five.
The other trotting heat will see Queen Elida (gate two) clash again with Plymouth Chubb (four), who upset her on opening night.
