By Adam Hamilton
Sometimes Gavin Lang’s genius is taken for granted.
The champion Victorian driver has achieved just about everything in his chosen sport, but the desire to compete in the biggest races on some of our best horses still burns bright.
And Lang thinks he has found the horse to that with again. It’s the big, injury-plagued brute Philadelphia Man.
The Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin-trained rising seven-year-old has been to hell and back in his career.
He’s spent more time on the sidelines with major injuries than racing.
But Lang thinks he is now ready to show what Stewart and Tonkin have always believed – he can be as good as any horse in Australasia.
Fans saw glimpses of his potential with a blazing start to last campaign when he won his first four starts on the comeback trail earlier this season, between October and January.
Sure his form deteriorated with flops in the Victoria and Hunter Cups, but in retrospect we were all far too harsh. It was at the end of a comeback campaign.
And, prior to that, Philadelphia Man had been away from the racetrack from July 26, 2012 until the first of his comeback wins on October 17, 2014.
Maybe all the hard prep work to get him back to the races, those four stunning wins to launch his return and the rapid rise into the sport’s biggest league were all a bit too much for him.
With under spell under his belt and far greater ringcraft, this could be Philadelphia Man’s year. Lang said as much after partnering him to a dominant, front-running win in the $125,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park.
“He felt relaxed in the warm-up and then settled so well in the race. If that’s a sign of things to come, then the sky’s the limit for him,” he said.
Lang’s genius and smooth hands have played a huge role in that. With his stablemate Guaranteed sidelined by injury, Philadelphia Man is Lang’s ticket to the Grand Circuit this season, headed by the Perth Inter Dominion, starting at Gloucester Park on November 26.
Many questioned the bold decision by Stewart and Tonkin to whisk Philadelphia Man up to the Brisbane just a week after he returned from a spell with what looked a workmanlike free-for-all win at Melton.
But, as the awesome training duo have proven time and time again, they knew best. Lang didn’t rush the entire out from gate five, obvious conscious of not wanting to fire him up.
Instead he was content to sit out wide as Forever Gold battled the leader Jivin Cullen for the front. Once Forever Gold got the top, Lang worked forward and eventually assumed control.
That’s when settling became crucial and Philadelphia Man professionally answered Lang’s prayers but switching off and cruising through a 31.4sec opening split of the last mile.
From there he always looked in control. The powerfully-built pacer ran home in 29.9, 27.6 and 27.7sec to easily hold-off a gallant Forever Gold and win by 2.4m in a solid 1min56.8sec mile rate for the long 2680m trip.
Local hero Avonnova moved around to sit parked in the middle stages and fought on well for third, while Smolda had little luck in fourth spot.
Smolda was buried four-back on the inside from an inside back row draw, found some racing room down the back straight, but didn’t look comfortable trying to unleash a finish burst out deep when the leader was zapping home so quickly.
Stewart said Philadelphia Man still had room to improve and said the Perth trip was a definite if he held the sort of form he’s showing now.
Owing to his two major injury setbacks, Philadelphia Man has been restricted to just 39 starts for 20 wins, seven placings and has now earned almost $400,000.
If he stays sound, he’s a great chance of doubling his bankroll or even more next season.
Harness Racing New Zealand
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
