The $25,000 Finals of the time honoured Central Victorian Championships were held at Maryborough on Monday January 20 – the Pacers over the short trip of 2190 metres going the way of exciting Union Guy/Bold Sapphire gelding Sapphire Swayze and the Trotters over 2690 metres to very much in-form home bred Bacardi Lindy/Oh Yes Indeed gelding The Boss Man, both four year olds.
Sapphire Swayze trained at Riddell by Adam Kelly and driven by stable reinsman Gavin Lang, galloped away from inside the second line as did the second elect Bushrod drawn next to him, with Sapphire Swayze settling at the tail of the field while Bushrod wouldn’t settle for Chris Alford and was tailed off.
The best to begin was the rank outsider Dynamite Dude (barrier four) which led easily from another roughie Nuggetpan, with Boyz Torque zooming forward from the 10 metre mark to race in the open.
Commencing a forward move three wide solo in the back straight approaching the bell, Sapphire Swayze was accommodated by Glenn Douglas coming out ahead of him from three back in the running line with Nimble Jack to race in the open, anticipating one/one cover for the final circuit.
This did not eventuate as Sapphire Swayze effortlessly crossed to the front at the winning post a lap out.
Despite missing away, Sapphire Swayze coasted for the remainder of the journey, defeating Almost El Eagle from mid-field off a three wide trail in the last lap on the back of Whata Avenue, with Nimble Jack running his usual honest race for third.
In quarters of 31, 29.6, 28.6 and 27.6, Sapphire Swayze returned a mile rate of 1-59.4.
Undefeated in his last eleven outings, Sapphire Swayze is partly owned by one time Maryborough Harness Racing Club Secretary Merv Gay.
The Boss Man gave Junortoun (Bendigo) trainer/driver Scott Dyer one of his biggest successes in the sport while at the same time, going through the series undefeated.
Raced by a large group of owners including father Rodney, brother Jaimie and long time stable client Terry Fowler, The Boss Man stepped safely from barrier three, with Dean Braun’s heavily supported ex-Kiwi Unico Crown inside him anticipating the start to a nicety to lead.
Momentarily trapped in the open, with Bellmac Cody (barrier five) also beginning swiftly to trail the pacemaker, The Boss Man gained cover shortly after when Daryl Douglas sent Sun Of Sonoko (slowly out from barrier four) forward to park in the open.
When Greg Sugars set the 30 metre backmarker Quite A Moment (last season’s Breeders Crown victor) forward mid-race to park outside the leader, the tempo increased and Dyer was able to angle The Boss Man to the back of Unico Crown at the bell.
Using the sprint lane, The Boss Man prevailed by a neck over Unico Crown in a mile rate of 2-03.2, with Quite A Moment a further 16 metres away in third place.
Invasive came from a mile back to finish fourth albeit 8 metres in arrears of Quite A Moment.
A wonderfully consistent gelding, The Boss Man has fronted the starter on 19 occasions for 8 wins and 5 placings.
The Central Victorian Pacers Championship has been in vogue since 1960, with the Trotters Series commencing in 1964.
