Fighter Command will represent Tasracing in next month’s Eureka at Menangle after his track record performance in Tasracing’s qualifying race, the Beautide (2090m), in Hobart, on Saturday night.
The $1.45 favourite ended up starting from the pole after the late scratching of Smooth Machete 75 minutes before the race.
Reely Nauti showed brilliant speed to lead, with Fighter Command’s driver Greg Sugars quickly getting off the pylons into the one-one.
When the field settled down the back-straight the first time, Sugars left the one-one on the Jess Tubbs-trained pacer and raced three-wide until finding the lead at the 1300m.
The lead time was run in a moderate 35.0s, with Fighter Command bowling along in the lead running quarters of 29.1s and 29.0s before increasing the tempo, running his final two sections in 27.8s and 28.9s.
The three-year-old gelded son of Always Be Miki wasn’t out of second gear over the concluding stages, defeating Nyack ($5) by 16.1m, with De Goey ($5.50) a further 5.4m away third,
The mile rate was 1:55.3s, which took one-second off Pachacuti’s track record that was set in 2014.
“I always thought there was plenty of room to get off (early), and we could work the race out after that.
“He was feeling pretty fresh tonight, and he wanted to keep striding, so I thought if we were going to get tired running in front, hopefully everything was going to get tired chasing,” said Sugars post-race.
Soon after the race, the West Australian-owned pacer firmed into $7 for the Eureka on 7 September; of the eight slots announced, he currently will draw the pole in the $1.97m event on 7 September.
“It’s an interesting race this year. A few of the early fancied horses aren’t in peak form, and obviously, there are a few spots left. It is a little bit hard to say (how he will measure up) … He is still a big baby, and I’m sure he won’t disgrace himself in a race like that,” said the driver.
Comments from the beaten brigade.
2nd Nyack: “He was terrific. He ran 27.8 down the back, and he has came three-wide and made some ground on the winner. But the winner has gone fantastic,” said trainer-driver Todd Rattray.
3rd De Goey: “I’m half-happy with him but frustrated in a way. He took some driving. I’m definitely going to send him to a bigger stable. He needs to learn. He wouldn’t even go to the mobile,” said trainer-driver Rohan Hadley.
4th Iylac Pakaria: “Her run was full of merit. She was underrated going into the race,” said driver Mitch Ford.
5th Nancestiger: “Plenty went wrong, but he was still battling away up the straight alright,” said driver Charlie Castles.
6th Reely Nauti: “Top effort,” said driver Mark Yole.
7th Dukes Choice: “He had to work twice in the early stages of the race and didn’t pan out the way we would have liked in track record time,” said trainer Samantha Gangell.
Late Scratching Custom Harley: “He was off his feed overnight and had an elevated temperature. The vet examined him and took some blood samples, “said trainer-driver Heath Woods.
Late Scratching Smooth Machete: Who coughed up mucus in his race day stall.” I’m glad it was found before the race. We still have a horse in time for the upcoming three-year-old features,” said part-owner Chris Bailey.
