Former Grand Circuit winner Ideal Scott made a timely return to the harness racing winners circle yesterday (Tuesday).
The big striding American Ideal – Tuapeka Wings gelding led throughout to score in the Noel and Chris Denning Pace over 1660m at Albion Park in a time of 1:53.2 defeating former glamour juvenile Majestic Mach and iron tough pacer Destreos.
Ideal Scott posted sectionals of 27.9, 30.2, 27.4 and 27.8 seconds.
Now prepared locally by Ian Gurney, the return to form comes at the right with the 2016 Brisbane winter carnival just around the corner.
During the month of July, the Albion Park Harness Racing Club will play host to a raft of feature open class events highlighted by the Gr.1 $200,000 Blacks A Fake.
“He went great and I expected him to perform well following his first-up run for me a few weeks back, he’s training well and hopefully he can return to that type of form that saw him collect the QPC a few years back. He’s a top horse who has been plagued by injury setbacks over time.” Gurney said.
Ironically, it was first victory since claiming the $200,000 Queensland Pacing Championship back in 2013 at Albion Park.
But amazingly, he’s only faced the starter 10 times since his latest win before yesterday’s triumph.
Ideal Scott certainly adds plenty of depth to local free-for-all ranks plus he adds another dimension to the Gurney stable that already features dual Queensland Horse of the Year Avonnova and the richly talented Mach Alert.
Both horses were unplaced behind Ideal Scott yesterday; it was the first run since their Perth Campaign last year.
“I was thrilled with both Nova and Mach; given how the race unfolded and where they were drawn, I thought they hit the line as good as anything in that race and they probably weren’t entitled to get as close as they did at the line.
“All three horses will continue to improve and the winter carnival is what we’re looking at, that’s the main focus right now. We have other options like the Newcastle Mile and the Len Smith Mile in Sydney coming up but we’ll just play those races by ear currently.
“We won the Sunshine Sprint last year with Nova and we’ll be trying to win it again this year while the Blacks A Fake is the jewel in the crown, that’s the race I want the most.”
Another addition to the Gurney stable this week is the arrival of talented young horseman Nathan Purdon.
The son of champion horseman Mark returns to the sunshine state after stints in Perth and Melbourne recently.
Chris Barsby