Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
When reinsman Stuart McDonald’s plans to win the start and set the pace with Star Lavra in the 2130m Allwood Stud Devoted To Breeding Excellence Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night failed he was forced to make a snap decision — whether to race in the breeze or restrain to the rear.
“The plan was to go forward (from barrier three) and look for the lead from either All Is Well (barrier two) or Sorridere (barrier three),” he said. “I didn’t expect Im The Black Flash to be in front, so I had to abandon Plan A and go to Plan Z because I didn’t really have a Plan B.
“I thought the best option was to get back and hope that Fess Up would drag me into the race, like he did.”
Im The Black Flash, the $1.80 favourite from the outside barrier in the field of five, easily won the start and then was able to saunter through the opening quarter of the final mile in 32.7sec. and coast through the next 400m in 30.7sec.
Fess Up ($4.60) settled down in fourth position before Deni Roberts eased him off the pegs and into the breeze 1000m from home, with McDonald then taking the opportunity to have Star Lavra poised to strike in the one-out, one-back position behind Fess Up.
After a 27.6sec. third quarter Im The Black Flash began to feel the pinch and Fess Up eventually got to the front 50m from the post and was looking the winner after Star Lavra had been struggling in the back straight to keep up with Fess Up.
However, Star Lavra finished with plenty of determination to get up in the final couple of strides and win by a half neck from Fess Up, rating 1.58.5 after a final 400m in 28.3sec.
“I didn’t think I was a winning chance until around the corner,” said McDonald. “Star Lavra just doesn’t know how to race. He just has to learn how to chase. If he has a horse on his outside, he is fine. He lacks the racing experience and is still learning. Once we got three-quarters of the way around the home turn I knew we had the leaders covered. He just motored to the line.”