Trots Centre: First frenetic steps may decide path to Gold

The first steps may well decide who makes the glorious final salute in Saturday night’s rich Australian Pacing Gold final for three-year-old colts and geldings, a showdown more than 12 months in the making.

Tasty Delight, Act Now, Soho Bollinger and Captain Crusader have drawn gates one to four for the $350,000 Group 1 at Tabcorp Park Melton and all have designs on using their early tactical speed to slot in up front.

New South Wales entrant Tasty Delight carries race favourtism into the national final, which was delayed 12 months owing to COVID-19 restrictions, and his reinsman Blake Fitzpatrick was talking tough this week.

“It’s the million-dollar question,” Fitzpatrick told SEN Track’s TrotsLife, having been asked who will lead. “(Tasty Delight’s) a horse who’s developing gate speed. I’ve driven his last two starts and he’s left the gate really quickly. My opinion, from barrier one, I’d think he’ll be able to hold.

“He’s a very good horse, very strong, he’ll definitely be holding the lead and take a lot of running down.”

LISTEN IN TO BLAKE FITZPATRICK ON SEN TRACK’S TROTS LIFE:

His primary threat appears to be Emma Stewart-trained Act Now on his outside, who’ll be steered by Jodi Quinlan.

Stewart told SEN Track her three-year-old “never has any luck, gets driven pretty hard” and “this week that’s probably going to be the way again”.

Michael Stanley, trainer-driver of fast-starting Soho Bollinger, will start directly on Act Now’s outside and is in no doubt who will win the early battle.

“Tasty Delight is no chance of holding the front,” he told Burning Questions. “I think the horses out wider have superior gate speed.

“Act Now, Soho Bollinger, Captain Crusader – their first 50 metres off the mobile is electric. I don’t think Tasty Delight is any chance of holding up. I can’t see Act Now with his blistering speed not getting across.

“For my bloke, I’ll have to come out and see if I can get a really good spot.”

The early burn will have huge ramifications not just for those involved but for those trailing, including reinsman Josh Aiken, who’s hope Narutac Prince got a start after WA horse Pinny Tiger scratched due to the connections’ concern about the COVID-19 outbreak.

Narutac Prince starts in gate eight, directly behind Tasty Delight and could get an armchair ride to the sprint lane if the favourite holds sway early.

“I’m hoping that Tasty Delight can hold up, but it won’t be without some attackers,” Aiken told Burning Questions.

“If Act Now had have drawn four or five I would have said he would have crossed him easily, but it’s just so much harder when a horse is drawn directly beside you to cross them, they just get that competitive nature.”

WATCH MICK + JOSH PREVIEW SATURDAY’S RACING IN BURNING QUESTIONS:

The Australian Pacing Gold final for three-year-old fillies is causing less consternation, with Stewart’s entrant Tough Tilly dominating markets.

She looks well placed to lead, control proceedings and continue her fairy-tale career for part-owners EB Research Partnership Australia, which raises funds to tackle debilitating skin condition Epidermolysis Bullosa.

Saturday night also features the Gold Bullion finals for two-year-olds, part of four Group 1s that be streamed live and free via extended wall-to-wall coverage on Trots Vision at thetrots.com.au.

A reminder, Tabcorp Park Melton will be closed Saturday night to all except participants and essential staff following the State Government’s seven-day statewide lockdown to counteract the outbreak of COVID-19.

The measures, in place at all Victorian harness racing meetings until restrictions are eased, also require attendees to register via QR codes and wear masks.

For rolling updates stay up to date at thetrots.com.au. More information in the links below:

COVID-19: Harness Racing Victoria update

Podcast: CEO Dayle Brown spoke on RSN for a COVID-19 update