Ace driver Will Rixon drove a superb front running race when he guided smart colt Pure Grunt (Vincent)  to a convincing harness racing win in $125,000 Ladbrokes Sunshine Stars Yearling Sale Classic Final for two year old colts and geldings at Albion Park on Friday evening.

The win made amends for his runner up in the Heat the week before when he appeared to have every chance when second to Sitting On Eight.

After that race, Rixon could offer no explanation as to why Pure Grunt after having a comfortable run in the lead had no answer to Sitting on Eight.

But in the Final, Rixon adopted the same tactics spearing Pure Grunt to the lead after a short spirited battle with fellow New South Wales pacer Kiki Meister who started favourite. The local hope Sitting On Eight was sent around the field by Pete McMullen to race outside the leader.

PURE GRUNT NOV 21 REPLAY

Pure Grunt was able to get a comfortable 30.2 seconds for the second quarter which would allow for some quick final quarters. Dixon went for home on the final bend and he sprinted away with what appeared to be a decisive winning break.

Kiki Meister who had the sit on the leader started to gather in Pure Grunt and he was fast making ground at the finish to lose by one and a half metres with Sitting On Eight despite having a hard run battling on gamely for third placing. Overall Pure Grunt rated 1.53.2 for the 1660 metres.

Pure Grunt is prepared by Maitland identity Keith McDeed who trains from the Goozdolphin Racing Complex at Singleton. McDeed is highly regarded for his training of youngsters.

Pure Grunt’s dam the New Zealand bred Ideal Tact was a well known pacer around the Albion Park circuit a decade ago winning 13 races for just under $100,000 in stake money and running 1.54.2.

Ideal Tact has left two previous winners in Tic Tact and Tactics Are Rolling but Pure Grunt is turning out to be the best of her progeny to date.

Pure Grunt has now six races with seven placings from 16 starts and just under $170,000 in stake money.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink