The Swan Hill Pacing Cup meeting was held last Friday, October 30, with the night’s feature event, sponsored by local radio station 102.6 3SH, going the way of three-year-old A Rocknroll Dance-Ma Koo Loo colt The Final Dance ($1.20).
Prepared by the Cardigan stable of Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin, the colt’s victory took their tally in the race to six. Previous winners for the stable were Restrepo (2013), Guaranteed (2014), Our Millionaire (2022), Like A Wildfire (2024) and Tuivasa last year.
The Final Dance was never seriously challenged over the 2240-metre journey. Unhurried from gate two as Bizzness Class began brilliantly to cross polemarker Krissy from outside the front line, the short-priced favourite enjoyed a comfortable passage before dashing clear on the final bend to score with ease.
Lougle, who settled one-out and four-back from gate two on the second line before moving to the breeze at the bell, battled on gamely for second. Sunraysia hope My Ultimate Jimmy, also drawn on the second line, finished third after racing wide over the final lap from midfield.
The mile rate was 1:55.7, with the margins 7.6 metres by a neck.
The Stewart stable had five starters at the meeting and finished the night with three winners, with Storms Collide taking out the Mixx FM The Morning Crew Open Pace and Star Vision winning the Central Murray Live Pace. Both were driven by stable number one Mark Pitt, while Ryan Sanderson partnered stablemate Fox Dan into second in the Open Pace.
Highly fancied four-year-old Captain Crunch-Party Major mare House Party led the stable’s runners down when beaten by Full Crunch Ahead in the 3SH Swan Hill Pace, despite leading for much of the event.
El Lazzar too good in Morning Rush final
Bannockburn-based trainer-driver Lochie Cook landed the 1750-metre 3SH Morning Rush Pace Final with three-year-old Lazarus-Catapult colt El Lazzar ($1.45), who returned a slick mile rate of 1:55.
The polemarker was fortunate at the start when Bella Louise, drawn outside the front line, broke her hopples while attempting to cross and had to be retired. The incident allowed El Lazzar to stride clear, and he made the most of the opportunity in a one-sided affair.
El Lazzar scored comfortably by 3.6 metres from Ozzie Daybreak, who trailed the leader from inside the second line. Starvin Marvin finished third, 8.9 metres away, after racing exposed from gate two on the second line.
Talknplay makes it three from three
Ballandella trainer Mark Thompson combined with Ellen Torney to land the 1750-metre Mixx FM Pace Final with six-year-old Shadow Play-Need To Talk gelding Talknplay ($1.25).
Restrained from outside the front line before being sent forward to cross leader Fleur Bella, who was drawn three, Talknplay settled into a favourable position and continued his impressive preparation.
The gelding made it three wins from as many starts this time in, defeating Eagleye by 10.6 metres. Eagleye settled four pegs from inside the second line, while polemarker Chalkncheddar, who sat behind the leader three pegs, finished third, a nose away.
The mile rate was 1:55.5.
Storms Collide too tough in the Open Pace
Four-year-old The Storm Inside-Tiger Storm entire Storms Collide ($1.50) continued the Stewart stable’s successful night with victory in the 1750-metre Mixx FM The Morning Crew Open Pace.
Starting from outside the front line, Storms Collide was eased at the start before moving forward to receive the lead from polemarker Wipeout.
Always in control, Storms Collide was joined by stablemate Fox Dan over the final lap, with the pair drawing well clear to fight out the finish. Storms Collide proved too tough, pulling clear to score by 2.3 metres.
Calexico, who settled one-out and two-back before improving to one-one on the home turn, finished third, 13.9 metres away.
The mile rate was a sharp 1:51.1.
Star Vision makes all the running
Three-year-old Always B Miki-Starburst Girl colt Star Vision ($1.05) had matters under control in the 2240-metre Central Murray Live Pace.
Drawn outside the front line, Star Vision was trapped wide early before moving forward to race exposed. Pitt then applied the pressure soon after, allowing the colt to stride clear and establish a winning break.
Star Vision scored by 10.4 metres, with Foxy Two Gloves and Major Drama sharing second place.
Foxy Two Gloves followed the leader from the pole, while Major Drama settled three pegs from gate two before using the sprint lane.
The mile rate was 1:58.8.
Full Crunch Ahead gets the better of House Party
Echuca trainer Susan Hunter combined with James Herbertson to win the 2240-metre 3SH Swan Hill Pace with four-year-old Captain Crunch-Jennas Highview gelding Full Crunch Ahead ($4.30).
Drawn five, Full Crunch Ahead was trapped without cover outside The End, who started from gate four. Herbertson, known as ‘Herbie’, pressed forward to cross the early leader before easing to allow House Party to take control.
Full Crunch Ahead saved his best for the finish, using the sprint lane to surge past House Party and score by 4.2 metres.
The End finished third, 1.8 metres away, after coming off the inside to join the leader over the final lap.
The mile rate was 1:56.7.
Hollow Log springs a surprise
Sunbury trainer Freddy Taiba combined with Ewa Justice to produce the longest-priced winner of the night when seven-year-old Art Major-Sugarland entire Hollow Log scored in his third career start.
Hollow Log settled behind the leader from gate two, with long odds-on favourite Alto Coraggio setting the pace along the pegs.
After easing off the inside on the final bend, Hollow Log outstayed Alto Coraggio to score by a neck in a mile rate of 1:57.6.
Brieisbetter, who settled four pegs from gate five, finished third, 7.6 metres away, after using the sprint lane.
Chainsmoke rounds out the program
John Tormey’s Bendigo stable rounded out the program with victory in the 1750-metre Lions Of Club Of Swan Hill Pace, courtesy of three-year-old Ride High-Hear No Secret gelding Chainsmoke ($10.00).
Driven by Tormey’s daughter Ellen, Chainsmoke pounced on the lead from gate three and dictated terms throughout.
The gelding proved too difficult to catch, scoring by 1.1 metres from hot favourite Crackin Philtra, who raced outside the leader.
Tooram Danny, who enjoyed every opportunity in the one-out, one-back position from gate four, finished third, a further 1.6 metres away.
The mile rate was 1:58.2.
