If anyone is planning on getting rich off the quinella in the 2-year-old Harness Racing Emerald it is officially time to find a plan B.
All things being equal the TAB could pay out on More The Better and Pacing Major filling the two top spots at the Harness Jewels now – the only question being whether the latter can turn the tables on Saturday's Group I winner.
Mark Purdon had to work hard but was able to get More The Better to lift and just hold off the challenge of stablemate Pacing Major, in the hands of training partner Natalie Rasmussen, to win the Sires Stakes for two-year-old colts and geldings at Addington.
More The Better, raced by Purdon, his father Roy Purdon and Sir David Levene, took his record to five wins from nine starts for more than $260,000 following his winning margin of a head.
Rasmussen pushed Pacing Major up the passing lane and drew level but More The Better found another gear.
"She was closing all the way up the straight and probably looked like she (Rasmussen) was going to win it with 100 (metres) to go but I felt like he (Pacing Major) probably just came to the end of his run," Purdon said.
More The Better's time of 2:22.90 for the 1950m trip was more than notable given the rain and blustery conditions on an easy track that was downgraded to slushy immediately after the race.
The Bettor's Delight colt was able to cross Pacing Major off the gate and lead for the duration of the trip.
The pair surely have the quinella at the Harness Jewels in Cambridge on June 4 tied up between them.
"There's not really a lot between them but More The Better is probably just a little but sharper and a little bit quicker out of the gate at this stage," Purdon said.
The All Stars stable matched last week's effort of filling the trifecta in the Sales Series race.
This week it was an impressive showing from King Solomon to run into third.
Mongolian Storm's effort for fourth was encouraging but it is hard to see him troubling More The Better and Pacing Major at the Jewels.
More The Better
Meanwhile, Wilma's Mate showed just how much talent she has when winning the Listed Yearling Sales trotting final for the three-year-old's by two lengths in the hands of David Butt for trainer Paul Nairn.
Wilma's Mate missed the start by two lengths but the filly's massive motor meant that was no problem and she looks the main danger to $1.40 favourite Marcoola in the three-year-old Ruby.
Runner-up behind Wilma's Mate, He's Like The Wind will head to Oamaru on Sunday in a bid to qualify for the Jewels.
The Gavin Smith-trained runner will most likely need to win to qualify.
Smith confirmed He's Like The Wind's stablemate Great Things Happen will not head to the four-year-old Ruby and is likely to spell.
Enghien made short work of his second-line draw to score an eye-catching three-and-a-half length win in the Group II Stakes Championship for two-year-trotters.
His win means Greg and Nina Hope will have two runners in the yellow Jewels colours at Cambridge with Monbet a dominant favourite in the 4-year-old Ruby.
Bookmakers were quick to move Enghien into 2-year-old Ruby favourite at $1.50 with Habibi Inta drifting back to $3.50 following his disappointing fourth.
Wilma's Mate
Mat Kermeen