A three-year-old harness racing fillies’ Southern Cross semi-final produced a race that will remain in the memories of patrons and punters for an eternity.
Victorian Lovelist, trained by Emma Stewart, was a $1.30 favourite in the first semi-final with South Australia’s star Whats Emma Got ($3.90) the only other runner considered a hope.
Danielle Hill, on Whats Emma Got, was determined to lead from gate three and found the front but Mark Billinger, on Lovelist from gate five was quickly alongside and the pair simply ‘went for it’ for the entire 2230 metres.
Hill believed her chance of beating the favourite was to lead, and Billinger knew that he couldn’t just sit parked and hoped to outsprint the SA star- so it was on.
The first two quarters were identical 29.7, then the ante was upped again with a 29.5 third.
The pair were side-by-side, with everyone waiting to see which filly would crack, and neither did.
Picking the winner was impossible as first one, then the other, looked to be gaining a narrow advantage.
Like two prize fighters, both Lovelist and Whats Emma Got were out on their feet up the home straight and came home in 33 – but were still side by side.
In the shadows of the post Whats Emma Got looked to have a narrow advantage but right on the line Lovelist gave a final burst to score by a half head.
Third placegetter Call Her Julie was 68.5 metres away third!
Syndicate manager Bruce Cameron was in awe of both fillies.
“What a race,” he said. “It was great to win but what a wonderful filly is the runner-up."
“Lovelist knows she has had a race."
“Mark (Billinger) said he thought he would have to be outside the leader and said he would put the pressure on because it would be near impossible to outsprint her after a comfortable lead – but I didn’t expect such a great match race.”
The second semi-final saw another winner for trainer Emma Stewart with Starburst Girl, another Cameron syndicated filly, also a $1 favourite leading throughout to score a 12 metre win.
She scored from Your Place or Mine ($26) with Linvel Ann ($13.60) four metres away third.
This time driver Mark Billinger was able to cruise early with a 31.6 first quarter, then steadily increase the tempo with 30.5, 29.2 and 28.6 sections to win easily.
For all the obvious quality of Starburst Girl, her effort was mundane after the first semi-final.
But what it does is set the stage for an exciting final.
Graham Fischer