Star Inter Dominion-bound six-year-old Dream Away/Sheer Finesse gelding Hectorjayjay chalked up his 32nd victory in 64 outings, when blitzing his rivals in the $30,000 Swan Hill Pacing Cup for M0 or better class over 2790 metres at the Swan Hill Racing Centre on Saturday.
Trained at Avenel by David Aiken, Hectorjayjay (driven by Aiken’s son Josh) began with a wing on every foot from outside the front line to cross Johnny Fox (gate three) prior to the first turn, whereas second elect Guaranteed, his first race since February, was taken back to the rear by Gavin Lang.
Old timer Smudge Bromac made a forward move mid-race from the tail with Guaranteed jumping to his back to occupy the “death-seat” shortly after giving Smudge Bromac the one/one trail.
Bowling along at his leisure, Hectorjayjay left his rivals standing approaching the home turn to register a huge 24.4m victory over Guaranteed in splits of 30.5, 29.8, 26.8 and 26.3 for the last mile, with Smudge Bromac a head away in third place 2.7 metres in advance of Johnny Fox which found the tempo too great. The mile rate of 1-57.6 will stand as a record as it was the first time the mobile had been used over this distance.
Ironically, illustrious stablemate and two-time Inter winner Lennytheshark (Chris Alford) resumed at Menangle only four minutes earlier to claim the Kevin Newman Free For All over 1609 metres by a three metre margin in a sizzling 1-49-9.
It was an exciting night’s racing keeping patrons on their toes throughout the evening with two other features held.
The $13,000 Haras Des Trotteus Jim Roberts Swan Hill Trotters Cup for T5 or better class (Discretionary Handicapped) over 2790 metres named in honour of recently passed Jim Roberts, an icon in the district, was taken out by Myols trainer Graham McDermott’s six-year-old Majestic Son/Steffi Jay gelding Majestic Ess Jay in a mile rate of 2-02.8.
For more on this story, check out Monday’s The Guardian (October 17).
