By Adam Hamilton
Emerging star Hectorjayjay grabbed clear favouritism for the Perth Inter Dominion final with another dominant heat win at Bunbury last night (Tuesday).
In contrast, his champion stablemate Lennytheshark missed a place in his heat as a hot favourite, finishing outside the top three for the first time since his sixth to Beautide in the Sydney Inter Dominion final on March, 2015.
The Aussie TAB reacted by slashing Hectorjayjay’s Grand Final odds from $3 into $2.50, while Lennytheshark eased to $3.20.
It’s too early say there is a genuine changing of the guard, but Hectorjayjay is definitely still on the up.
In contrast to night one when Hectorjayjay had to burn at the start to lead from a wide draw, he ambled to the front at his leisure from barrier two at Bunbury and then cruised through a 31.3sec opening split of the last mile.
It was the last three splits which set tongues wagging.
With Josh Aiken sitting against him and not having to pull the plugs, Hectorjayjay’s last three splits quarters were 28.7, 27.1 and 26.6.
It’s clear up with any of the fastest pacers of the modern era for sheer brilliance.
Aiken was more excited about how well the six-year-old backed-up from his tough run on night one.
“The most pleasing part was how fresh he felt. He felt better than he did to me last Friday night,” he said. “Dad (David Aiken, trainer) told me he’d come through the first run well, but I think he’s thrived on it given how easily he did it tonight and how sharp he felt.”
Hectorjayjay’s 1min54.2sec mile rate was the second quickest of the three Bunbury heats. Run Oneover was pushed right out to go 1min53.8sec in the first of them, while Bling It On won the third of them in 1min54.4sec.
Lennytheshark finished fourth to Bling It On, beaten 7.2m.
Driver Chris Alford sat back from a second row draw while Ima Connoisseur led with the find of the series, John Of Arc, outside the leader.
They ran the slowest lead time of the night in 35.7sec followed by a comfortable 30.4sec opening split of the last mile.
Aiken started a three-wide run with a lap to run and quickly made ground, but the leaders were flying through the last three splits in 28.4, 27.5 and 27.3sec.
It was clear on the last bend Lennytheshark was struggling and his tendency to hang hurt when it opened a gap for Bling it On to zip through and go on to rundown a very gallant John Of Arc and win by 2.7m.
Waylade, who sat three pegs, pushed through nearer the inside for third with Lennytheshark feeling the pinch in fourth spot.
Trainer David Aiken certainly wasn’t panicking.
“I was happy with the run. Chris (Alford, driver) said he got too far back. He didn’t want to make his run earlier as he thought he’d be stuck out three wide,” Aiken said.
“I asked Chris after the race if we still right on track and he assured me we were.
“He pulled-up well. His heart rate was good. Things didn’t go our way tonight and he probably handles Gloucester Park better than this track so it will be good to get back there on Friday and for the final.”
Bling It On’s win came courtesy of a patient and brilliant Luke McCarthy drive. It’s the second time in three starts he’s beaten Lennytheshark.
“He needs the right run to beat the best so that’s how we drive him. He sprinted really quickly when he got the split,” McCarthy said.
“He’s still a bit big in condition so he should keep improving through the series.”
John Of Arc followed his fantastic opening night third with last night’s massive second.
“I’m so thrilled. I’m so proud of him,” trainer Clive Dalton said. “He did all the work again tonight and never gave in. If we can hold him together through the series, I think he’s a chance in the final.”
Run Oneover lived in the shadow of stablemate Beaudiene Boaz last season, but has emerged from it with two superb runs this series.
He ran second to Hectorjayjay on night one then won an early fight for the front and won brilliantly last night.
“He didn’t grab-on at the start like normal so I had more of a battle than I thought to keep Franco Nelson from crossing me,” driver Clinton Hall said.
“He relaxed well once in front and a good horse like him in front is always going to be hard to beat.”
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