This is going to be an epic Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park next Saturday night.
For many weeks the hype has been around superstar stablemates Lennytheshark and Hectorjayjay, but the depth goes way beyond them now.
Whether that glamour pair has come back to the pack or others have improved, we now have at least four, maybe even five serious winning chances in next week’s $200,540 feature over the gruelling 2680m trip.
Rejuvenated Kiwi pacer My Field Marshal is firmly in the A-team now as is former Kiwi stayer Tiger Tara, who is the “fresh blood” in the race having skipped last night’s Sunshine Sprint to stay home and thrash a weaker field at Menangle.
Then there is the much-improved and speedy Mach Doro, who, if given the right trip, has the speed to test any horse.
We hoped last night’s Group 2 Sunshine Sprint would shed more light on who might win th Blacks A Fake, but, instead, it further muddied the waters.
Hectorjayjay, unfairly criticised for his tiring fourth in the Len Smith Mile, bounced-back to win last night, but didn’t prove a lot in doing so.
Young driver Josh Aiken put for the race for the lead with Lennytheshark quickly beyond doubt when he used Hector’s early brilliant to “ping” to the front.
Then Aiken slammed on the breaks and dawdled through the first three splits in 29.4, 30.0 and 29.2sec.
Hectorjayjay was always going to win in that scenario. He ripped home in 25.7sec, but only had a half-neck to spare from My Field Marshall with Lennytheshark struggling with the electric dash down the home straight to finish 6.7m away in third spot. Mach Doro was a close-up fourth.
After the race, Aiken said: “We did what we needed to do to win tonight, but next week is a different race and the tactics will be very different.”
Dexter Dunn’s pick-up drive on My Field Marshal was sublime and matched only by how well the horse himself went.
To circle the field early, sit parked and finish so close to Hectorjayjay in a race he dictated was simply outstanding.
If anyone thought My Field Marshal’s upset Len Smith Mile win was a fluke, they need to think again now.
Meanwhile, around the same time the Sunshine Sprint was being run, Tiger Tara was capping his Blacks A Fake preparation with another crushing Menangle win.
Driver Todd McCarthy balanced him up early from a wide draw and drifted back, then launched in the middle stages with a 27.3sec third split to blast around the field take the front.
Tiger Tara then powered to a 6.8m win in a slick 1min51.5sec mile.
Make no mistake, he’s absolutely primed to run a monster race in the Blacks A Fake.
Yes, the draw will be important, but the long 2680m trip and mix of strength and speed amongst the key players set the scene for what should be a race for the ages at Albion Park next Saturday night.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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