YOU couldn't contain the smile on Dubbo trainer Michael Pay's face on Friday night, after his six-year-old gelding Jacobs Thunder cruised to victory in Heat 2 of the Parkes/Dubbo Series.
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The American Ideal x Candyrama gelding has now won his past three starts at the Parkes track without breaking a sweat, and Pay was stoked to be able to secure a spot in this Friday's $8000 final.
"He is going really well. He really loves the track and Jack (Pay, driver) has driven him really well both times," he said after the race.
Pay's son Jack easily found the front aboard the gelding as soon as the arms folded back, and made a mockery of the $3.90 odds as he confidently fended off a challenge from Dynamite Dee ($8.50) on the back straight.
In 12 starts on the track, he's missed the placings just three times, and Pay was pretty confident once he hit the front that he wouldn't be run down.
"We didn't know where he'd end up after drawing third on the front row, but once he crossed over and got to the front, I knew he'd be pretty hard to beat," said Pay.
Jacobs Thunder might not catch the eye as a particularly big horse, but Pay wouldn't trade him for anything.
"He's just a tough horse. You know what you're going to get every week...he's not big but he's a little cracker and has a big heart."
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In Heat 1, Royalhotshot ($2.90) got the chocolates for Bathurst trainer Nathan Turnbull, ahead of Sharp Shooter ($5.50) and Maudies Delight ($11).
Turnbull told Australian Community Media that the race planned out exactly as hoped.
"She did do it easily. I knew that the horse who could beat me was on my back, so I just had to hold her in the pocket, and it all worked out perfectly," he said.
In the final heat, trainer/driver Nathan Hurst piloted four-year-old mare Gabbys Ideal ($8) to a 2.40 metre win after a gem of a ride held off the fast finishing favourite Im A Shy Guy ($3.60).
They crawled around, finishing with a mile rate of 2:03.0, after Hurst controlled the tempo perfectly from the front.
Harness racing heads to Dubbo this Friday night for the running of the Final.
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