As expected by most pundits, the $25,000 Kindergarten Stakes for juvenile pacers at the harness racing meeting at Wyndham today turned into an All Stars stable benefit with the all conquering barn providing the first three runners home.
Not only that but their finishing order was more or less determined by where they drew.
Duane Marfisi, the foreman at All Stars Racing Stables thought the draws meant the result from the Sapling Stakes would be the same in the Kindergarten Stakes.
"I think the result of the Kindergarten might be the same as the Sapling with Pacing Major our best."
"I think he will win again from that draw."
"If the draws were different my thoughts would be different but that is the way I see it."
"More the Better is going to be hard to beat and You Gotta Have Faith will go a good race but he is not yet up with the other two more seasoned horses," Duane said.
Mongolian Storm flew the gate for Blair Orange to lead early from Pacing Major who settled in the death seat and More The Bettor in the one out,three back position.
Soon after Tim Williams looped the field to sit parked with More The Better,giving Dexter Dunn and Pacing Major a beautiful run in the one by one.
Dexter peeled out of the one by one on the point of the corner and went up quickly to More The Better but it took him the length of the straight to get the better of his stablemate by a head at the finish.
You Gotta Have Faith showed real improvement from the Sapling Stakes, running on well for third just two lengths behind the first two while Jimmie ran into fourth, a further 2 1/2 lengths away.
Pacing Major cut out the mile in a swift 1:54.7 with the closing sectionals in 56.7 and 26.9
Dexter Dunn was happy with the run of the Art Major colt
"He seemed a lot more focused today than he was in the Sapling Stakes.
"It took a while to get the upper hand in the straight but I always felt he would get up in the end," Dexter said.
Tim Williams was very impressed with the effort of More The Better.
" He has had to do the most work in the race but has stuck on really well in the straight.
" Reverse the draw and I think you would reverse the result," Tim said.
Matt Anderson was also pleased with the effort of You Gotta Have Faith.
" He has stepped forward since the Sapling and is closing the gap on the first two," Matt said.
Both Pacing Major and More The Better are now making the long trek back to Alexandra Park in Auckland for the last heat and final of the Young Guns Series in early March.
We think the gap between the two star youngsters is virtually nil and it would seem the draw may determine which of the two is the bigger winning chance in upcoming races at Alexandra Park.
Harnesslink Media