Champion pacer Im Themightyquinn ($1.90 fav.) delivered a blinding sprint to claim the $1 million V75 Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Grand Final at Gloucester Park defeating a brave Mysta Magical Mach ($63.30) and Lombo Navigator ($32.90).
Reinsman Gary Hall Jnr. drove a centimetre perfect race as Im Themightyquinn commenced his sprint at the 400m mark as the huge local crowd roared as he set about reeling in his rivals.
“You just have to believe his speed, I did that tonight and he proved beyond doubt he has champion qualities.” Hall Jnr. beamed after the race.
The race was filled with early drama as Smoken Up ($4.70) went into a wild break as he tackled strongly for the lead with Mr Feelgood ($5.10) on the first turn, leaving the field severely disrupted.
Driver John McCarthy was able to settle Mr Feelgood shortly after the early scrimmage and then set the tempo in the 2506m with Lombo Navigator racing in the trail.
Both Im Themightyquinn and Auckland Reactor were eased from their wide draws.
The lead time was covered in 66.3 seconds.
Mr Feelgood continued to set the speed in the leading role as Anthony Butt made the move with Auckland Reactor who dashed around the field to sit parked.
The first quarter was posted in 30.6 seconds while the second split was covered in a quicker 29.7 seconds.
At the bell lap, Mr Feelgood showed the way from Auckland Reactor while race favourite Im Themightyquinn sat last after being momentarily held up as Smoken Up gave ground three-wide after chasing strongly after his costly early mistake.
With the third quarter covered in 28.2 seconds, both Mr Feelgood and Auckland Reactor were then placed under immediate pressure with Mysta Magical Mach and Im Themightyquinn starting their sprints wider on the track.
Both Lombo Navigator and Raglan were blocked for clear running approaching the final turn.
In the straight, Mysta Magical Mach claimed the lead but Im Themightyquinn quickly raced up to challenge while Lombo Navigator obtained an inside run.
At the line, Im Themightyquinn forged clear to win by 1.4 metres from Mysta Magical Mach with a further 2.3 metres back to Lombo Navigator.
The final quarter was timed in 28.3 seconds.
The overall time was 3;03.1, the winning mile rate was 1;57.6.
“The race didn't pan out anywhere near like I expected; I looked up and noticed that Smoken Up went off stride and I thought so many different things.
“I played the waiting game with him and followed my own advice like I tell the stand-in drivers when I've been out suspended, just drive him for speed.
“The feeling is unbelievable, he had to dig deep to get Mysta Magical Mach but he just wasn't going to be beaten tonight, he's a champion.”
The Gary Hall Snr. trained gelding made a clean sweep of the series after dominating in each of his three heats prior to the final.
Im Themightyquinn has now won 39 of his 84 starts while his earnings have now surpassed $3.29 million.
Tonight's victory from Im Themightyquinn was his 26th at Gloucester Park.
In a added bonus for Perth harness fans, Im Themightyquinn led home an all West Australian trained trifecta with Mysta Magical Mach and Lombo Navigator also representing the host state of the 2012 Inter Dominion Pacing Championships.
