For the first time something went wrong in Tornado Valley’s campaign and even it couldn’t stop the talented trotter completing a clean sweep of its TAB Inter Dominion trotting heats.
Despite a loose bandage flailing in the straight Andy and Kate Gath’s Long Forrest trotter produced a 16th win in 18 starts, then Speeding Spur reaffirmed his status by controlling the second heat.
And with that the final 12 booked their places in next Saturday’s trotting Grand Final at Tabcorp Park Melton, with that select dozen unchanged by tonight’s proceedings.
The final qualifiers were Tornado Valley (48 points), Speeding Spur (43), Save Our Pennys (39), Big Jack Hammer (35), Kyvalley Blur (30), Tough Monarch (29), Red Hot Tooth (26), Monty Python (24), Sky Petite (23), Kingdom Come (22), Rompers Monarchy (21) and Wilmas Mate (20), with Illawong Armstrong (18) the first emergency.
But while there is a big 12, looming even larger is the big two and, perhaps, in Tornado Valley the big one.
“He didn’t miss a beat,” reinswoman Kate Gath said. “He’s always had a great gait. He does get on the bit a little bit, particularly over the longer trip, but it doesn’t seem to affect him. In the straight he just goes.
“He seems to have come through the runs very well and so far so good. Obviously we would like a front row draw in the final, but whatever happens happens and I’m glad I’ve got him.
“If he draws poorly it will make things a hell of a lot harder, but he is versatile so it’s not the end of the world.”
The 6.3-metre win was established with a 27.8 third quarter after a hearty breather in the second quarter (32.2) that helped ensure the win was never in doubt, with Save Our Pennys advancing from three pegs to run second and Red Hot Tooth ensuring her finals place with third after a bold early lead.
The horse most likely to prevent the trotting championship being Tornado Valley’s plaything remains Speeding Spur, with Josh and John Dickie’s near-million-dollar trotter registering a second heat win tonight after finding the front and getting home in 58.8 seconds.
“It’s been a good round of heats for him,” reinsman Josh Dickie said. “When he ran third the other night it was still a great run, so heading into the final next Saturday we couldn’t be happier.
“He’s such a great horse to drive, he’s just always underneath you and he will run when you want him too.
“I thought all three heats he’s been really good, he probably doesn’t look as impressive at time but he gets the job done. The 2700 (metres) at Melton next week is going to be right up his alley, especially if they are going hard.”
Big Jack Hammer ran a bold second to Speeding Spur from three pegs with Illawong Armstrong’s third placing from leader’s back drawing him within two points of a finals berth and earning him first emergency status for trainer-driver Jodi Quinlan.