Gus outclasses his rivals

Local favourite Gus (Majestic Son) showed why he may well start a hot favourite in this year’s Inter Dominion Final when he blitzed his harness racing rivals in the Second Heat of the Trotter’s Inter Dominion at Albion Park on Saturday night.

Driver Pete McMullen was content to allow Gus to settle down one out two back on settling. The Victorian Im Bobby was in the lead but he unexpectedly surrendered the front to Lovemeto.

The pace was slow and this was the impetus for McMullen to make his run at the bell with a lap left to travel and he swept around the outside to quickly take up the running. His rivals were left chasing in the back straight and in the home straight Gus simply cruised to the lead to record an effortless win over Im Bobby with Keayang Stuka holding on for third.

GUS REPLAY

His class showed in running his final three quarters in 28.3, 28.8 and 28.1 seconds with an overall mile rate of 1.56.2 which was 1.3 seconds faster than the first heat.

McMullen confirmed that the pace was too slow in explaining his rationale to take off when he did and the way he went to the line suggests that Gus had plenty in reserve.

The horse is a good doer and obviously McMullen will have him in peak condition for next week’s heat and of course the ultimate $500,000 Final to be run on 18 July.

Both Im Bobby and Keayang Stuka finished well enough to fill out the placings but they’ll have their work cut out to beat Gus who is racing in rare form and of course knows the Albion Park track.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink