WHEN Masons Delight raced in a heat of the Gold Chalice series in May, the three-year-old was far from impressive as he hung in under pressure and finished more than 55 metres off the pace as a $101 outsider.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But when he returned to the Bathurst Paceway on Wednesday night, the American Ideal x Pacing Delight colt did not put a foot wrong.
This time Masons Delight started as a the $2.80 favourite and delivered on that tag, leaving his rivals in his wake as kicked into the final corner.
He was 14.3m clear of his nearest rival in the Stu Valentine 4 Bloodstock Ins Pace (1,730m) and clocked the quickest winning mile rate of the meeting - a 1:55.6.
Driver Jason Grimson felt the Billy Muscat, Londonderry trained colt could have gone faster as well.
"He was just a bit better than them tonight ... he felt like he's a quick little fella," Grimson said after steering Masons Delight for the first time.
"He did feel like he could have gone quicker, he felt like he had a little bit left."
Heading to Bathurst on the back of some solid performances at Penrith, Masons Delight nudged out Amanda Turnbull's Convair Hustler ($3) for favouritism.
From barrier seven Grimson guided him into the death seat outside early leader Sweet Heart Bella, with around a length separating that pair at the 600m mark.
While the pace was on - the third quarter covered in a 28.5 second split - when Grimson asked Masons Delight to give he quickly responded.
READ MORE: A second $1 million harness race for NSW
READ MORE: Sam narrow misses out on a Group 1 win
Want a discounted subscription to follow Bathurst sport this winter? Click here
He took the lead into the corner, was three lengths clear at the top of the lane and increased that margin as he charged to the post.
He posted the third win of his 22-start career in style, with Presidential Dude ($7.50) the best of the rest.
While Masons Delight's win was anticipated by punters, when Amy Rees guided Pacman Hammer to victory in the second race of the Bathurst meeting it was a very different story.
In the gig for Perthville trainer Mathew McCarthy, Rees guided the $51 chance to his first win since October 2018. Pacman Hammer clocked a career best 1:56.7 mile rate as he won in all the way fashion.
