FIFTY metres out from the finish line in the Honouree Stakes Final on Wednesday night at the Bathurst Paceway, driver John O’Shea had a broad smile plastered across his face.
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It was at that point he knew he victory aboard A Life Under Fire ($3.70) was his in the 2,260 metres decider.
Staged each year as part of the Bathurst Harness Racing Club’s Gold Crown Carnival, the Honouree Stakes series has been dominated by local drivers in recent years.
O’Shea’s victory with the Lester Hewitt, Dunkeld trained four-year-old extended that streak to eight in a row, Dale Spencer the last visiting reinsman to find success in 2009.
A barrier 13 draw did pose some questions for O’Shea, but a slow tempo early in the decider played into his hands.
It allowed him to come from the rear into the death seat on a three wide move without expending too much of A Life Under Fire’s energy. From there he went on with the job.
“He went good, he had a really good trip. That 46.4 [seconds] lead time really helped,” O’Shea said.
“He’s a tough sort of horse who has a good record. He was a bit stiff last week … but everything worked out well tonight.”
While A Life Under Fire missed out by a half-head in his heat of the series on Saturday night, this time the Life Sign x Flash Under Fire horse could not be denied.
With 450m to go O’Shea asked his chance to give and A Life Under Fire responded, surging around frontrunner Pay Me Way.
He balanced at the top of the home straight in the lead and though Raksmach ($3.90) flew home with three-times Honouree Stakes victor Amanda Turnbull in the gig, that move came too late.
A Life Under Fire won by 5m in a 1:59.4 mile rate.
In the Honouree Stakes Consolation (2,260m) staged earlier in the evening, it was Jake Davis on $8.90 chance Rays Choice who took the spoils.
From a barrier eight draw, Davis opted to sit back in the running line with his Four Starzzz Shark x The Coldstream gelding.
He made his move through the final bend, guiding Rays Choice four and five wide in pursuit of a clear run.
With 400m to go he had caught the leaders and 200m later he had pulled clear and went on to win by 9½m over Casino Grin ($5.70).
In posting his eighth career win, Rays Choice rated 1:59.0.
“He goes better with a sit, I didn’t have to use him out of the gate this week either,” Jake Davis, who drove for Browns Creek trainer Leigh Davis, said. “I sat back and waited and then he rounded them all up.”
