DUNNO Jo ran a firm pace throughout Wednesday night's Club Menangle Where Horses Fly Heat (1,730 metres) but still had enough in reserve to gap his rivals at Bathurst Paceway.
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Harry Fitzpatrick's Dunno Jo ($2.30 favourite, Justin Reynolds) got to the lead quickly and didn't dial back the speed across a 57.4 opening half.
Despite his quick start the Blissfull Hall gelding was able to run clear from the pack across the closing stages to book his ticket to the upcoming final at Menangle.
"He's a nice horse. We had to burn a little bit early on but he was lucky enough to get a breather across the back in that third quarter and he was able to kick away," winning driver Reynolds said.
"Hopefully he can get a good draw in the final and go close again."
Dunno Jo and Procurement ($2.50, Amanda Turnbull) jostled for favouritism in the lead up to the race, with Fitzpatrick's runner gaining a slight edge at the green light.
Watchoutnexttime ($4.80, Nathan Turnbull) was the only other horse to start in single digits - punters seeing it as a race of three.
Dunno Jo got out well from gate five though he didn't have it all his own way when Overpowering battled him for the lead.
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Reynolds held off his outside challenger who instead tucked in behind him.
Watchoutnexttime began a three wide move from the back and Procurement didn't miss the chance to latch onto the back.
It took Procurement the full distance of the bend to eventually round Watchoutnexttime and sit in the death seat.
The extra work took its toll on Procurement through the turn for home when he couldn't stay in touch with the leader.
Watchoutnexttime rounded the outside of Procurement to launch an attack, and Overpowering was still well positioned to make a sprint.
However, neither of them could go along with Dunno Jo when Reynolds asked his runner to turn up the speed.
Dunno Jo cruised home by 7.6m to win in a new career best mile rate of 1:56.4.
Watchoutnexttime edged out Overpowering ($13, Nathan Hurst) for the runner-up spot.
Switchem All In ($31) was a close fourth.
Nathan Turnbull missed out in the opening Country Series heat of the night but he didn't in the later event when Kotiro got up.
Kotiro ($9.50) edged out Spike Robyn ($4) and Mo Chara ($34) to pick up her third straight victory for her new stable.
Wednesday night was a great one for race favourites.
Kotiro was in fact the only non-favourite to take the spoils across the nine race meeting.