A late burst to win a showdown with Avonova, a well-timed run down Bunbury’s modest straight to pick off Blazin N Cullen, and a run from the rear to be nosed out by leader Libertybelle Midfrew.
Philadelphia Man hasn’t seen a lot of breeze in the Inter Dominion heats, but has generally found the front when it matters.
They are a succession of performances that sit right with trainer Emma Stewart and her partner Clayton Tonkin.
“I think he’s had a pretty good round of heats,” Tonkin said.
“He basically hasn’t had a hard run yet to be honest. Most of them have been run to suit, he got a long way back last time, which didn’t work as well, but he is looking good and is sound.”
Therefore a fourth run in 17 days in Sunday’s final is more likely an avenue to success than a bridge too far.
“I think, going in, he was probably carrying a little extra weight,” Tonkin said. “We planned it that way and now he’s starting to tighten right up.”
Some may view Philadelphia Man being drawn at four at Gloucester Park as being awkward.
With Lovers Delight and Lennytheshark on its inside, finding the front could come at a price. In the heats Gavin Lang has successfully steered Philadelphia Man to cover and bided his time, while those that made the early running were soon mowed down.
“You don’t expect them to go as crazy (at the start) as they did (in the heats), but it just worked in our favour,” Tonkin said.
The going will likely be willing early in Sunday’s final and Philadelphia Man’s connections will rely on their driver to make the right call.
“Lovers Delight, Lennytheshark and even Devendra out wide will be working very hard to get the lead,” Tonkin said.
“We’ll leave it up to Gavin (Lang), but if the speed is on early on he could drop him in, but we could also put him in the race early. He can make his own luck and can do it tough. He’s pretty versatile.”
Much has been made of Philadelphia Man’s long-awaited showdown with Lennytheshark.
The Victorian pacers haven’t met since January’s Victoria Cup, when Lennytheshark hunted winner Christen Me down the sprint lane to finish second, while Philadelphia Man held ground to finish fifth.
One week earlier they were first and second favourite in the Shepparton Cup, when Philadelphia Man appeared to have the cup in hand over a first-up Lennytheshark when Geoff Webster’s Franco’s Ledger mowed the pair down.
So what’s it all mean?
“I just take it race by race,” Tonkin said. “Horses go in and out of form. I don’t think you can get a gauge on that.
“I’m happy with how our fella’s going and if he gets the right run on the night he will acquit himself well.”
Certainly, Tonkin believes the window is open.
“I always thought he could go on to race an Inter Dominion.
“I thought he would be suited to the old style of racing. And when they all dropped off, like Christen Me and Beautide, I think it’s a year when he is a real chance to win.”
And what a result that would be for Philadelphia Man’s loyal owners, a broad Ballarat syndicate that has ridden the bumps and is now Perth-bound.
“There are a heap of people in it who love the horse,” Tonkin said.
“They are a real good bunch who spent a lot of money on him because of injury.
“There have been a lot of setbacks and disappointments, so to even see him in an Inter Dominion final is a huge reward.”
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