Tonights harness racing meeting at Menangle was the centre of attention for a lot of harness racing fans in Australia as the two Group 3 $30,000 semi finals of the Australian Pacing Gold for two year old colts and geldings were run.
The first semi pitched two unbeaten colts in the form of the Sportswriter colt Kingofthestars and the son of Somebeachsomewhere in Our Waikiki Beach against each other and it was a two horse race from the moment the gate folded.
Our Waikiki Beach with Mark Purdon in the bike flew the gate from barrier five to grab the early lead with Kingofthestars and Nathan Jack sliding across from barrier eight to settle in the trail.
Mark Purdon was able to dictate the tempo in front with Our Waikiki Beach until the 500 metres mark when Nathan angled Kingofthestars out into the running line and attacked Our Waikiki Beach.
Just when it looked like Kingofthestars was going to make a race of it, Mark Purdon pushed the go button and Waikiki Beach scooted away from Kingofthestars for an easy victory by eight metres with Herehecomes a further eighteen metres back in third.
Our Waikiki Beach paced the mile in 1:56.1 with the last 800 metres in 56.9 and 400 metres in 26.6.
It was another super impressive run from Our Waikiki Beach and he looms as one of the two main chances for the final.
Our Waikiki Beach
The second semi final was billed as a match race between the unbeaten son of Somebeachsomewhere in Goodtime Sammy and the son of Village Jolt in Christmas Jolt who had won five of six this season.
Goodtime Sammy and Nathan Jack lead easily from barrier two with Christmas Jolt and Kerryn Manning going forward from barrier six to sit on his wheel.
Nathan backed the speed off in the second quarter before applying the blowtorch from the 800 metres with a quarter down the back in 28.3 which had Christmas Jolt struggling on the corner.
The talented son of Rocknroll Hanover in Born To Rocknroll with John McCarthy in the bike had been sitting in the trail the whole way and came out as they turned for home to challenge the leader.
But try as he might, Born To Rocknroll couldn't take any ground off Goodtime Sammy who went on to win the semi final in a smart 1:54.1.
Born To Rocknroll held second with the son of Major In Art in Brallas Pass running on well for third.
The closing sectionals of 55.6 and 27 .3 by Goodtime Sammy were impressive and he looked to still have some petrol in the tank at the finish.
The final of the Australian Pacing Gold for two year old colts and geldings on April 26th looks a two horse race after tonights semi finals.
The two sons of Somebeachsomewhere in Our Waikiki Beach and Goodtime Sammy look a class above the rest of the opposition and the outcome may be decided by who draws best in the final.
Goodtime Sammy
Harnesslink Media