2012 Fremantle Pacing Cup

For Educational Purposes Only: Im Themightyquinn with an amazing turn of foot thrashes a crack field, winning a record 3rd Fremantle Cup at Gloucester Park.

[@coolsofo]

Thanks for posting this amazing run, In all my years of watching pacing, I cannot remember a horse put in a burst of pace as quick as this display from Im Themightyquinn. He gave them wind burn in covering the field in under 200 metres. I hope we see some of the same in the up coming inters!

[@emmelby]

It's not very often I'm lost for words, but seriously mate, gobsmacked. I'm not surprised Raglan got left behind, he copped a faceful of dust as soon as ITMQ took off, lol. Have to say though, I have never seen Raglan race as well at home as he has been since heading over the ditch. That was a spectacular win though, far out.

[@paulsemertzidis6269]

Im Themightyquinn with a paralysing turn of speed! My golly gosh! Best pacer in the world right now

[@bgardiner2000]

@coolsofo Yes that was the race that made the whole country sit up and take note. WA produces some very nice pacers. Many of them are ex-Kiwis that thrive in the Perth climate. Village Kid, Jack Morris, Im Themightyquinn are the stand-outs. But there have been plenty of quality locally-bred horses as well. If you've ever heard of David Hercules & his dominance in the East as a 4yo last year. & he wasn't even the 2nd best 4 yo in WA.

[@bgardiner2000]

@coolsofo What did you make of the first round of heats? Everything went pretty much to plan other than Crombie storing home to win the heat where Mr Feelgood failed badly again. Which was good for me because I counted on Crombie running a big race. i thought he was a little over the odds with the performances to date of Mr Feelgood in Perth. ITMQ sensational agin as was Smoken Up. Good to see Dasher VC run such a great race.

[@bgardiner2000]

@coolsofo You're right. There seems a bit of a gulf between the top 3 (or 4 if Auckland Reactor can handle GP) & the rest. One horse I really rate is Dasher VC. I had a bi go at him for the pacing cup. I was hoping that the quinn might have been a tad underdone & it nearly came off. Ran a great race there & with the right run could give a good sight. I think that outside of these there is not a lot of depth at all. Look at the horses that are missing. Choice Achiever, Stunning Cullen...

[@coolsofo]

As for the inters series next week, I cant wait, I think it will be close but as always the draws at GP will play a part. I think Quinny as always will be hard to beat at GP but as Mr Feelgood has been in Perth since the local Cups and after excuses will be acimatised. Smoken Up is always the hardest to beat in front but it would be nice for a horse to step up to compete with the top3. Any horse capable? Any thoughts?

[@coolsofo]

@bgardiner2000 Yes indeed all horses you mentioned where top S&S with enomous let down speed. If you remember Im Themightyquinn was a certainty beaten when 3rd in 2010 Hunter Cup when he was last on the inside at the top of the straight at Moonee Valley and rocketed home with a similar burst and would have won if the race had gone another 10 metres. Looking forward to a couple of weeks time.

[@bgardiner2000]

@coolsofo I think Lewis was driving Crombie for next week. There was no point killing the horse holding out AR for the lead. I think both Crombie & Dasher VC struggled a bit with the work-load of the series. Remember both are fairly inexperienced at that level. ITMQ would never have handled a series like this in his 5yo season. They will both be grand circuit horses next year. It's a shame DVC missed out. I think the big find of the series has been Cromac Johnny. He was unlucky to miss out.

[@coolsofo]

@TheRockyQ How easy did ITMQ win coming home in 55.7 untouched. Good to see Mr Feelgood win, should be a great final next week. Cant wait for the barrier draw on Sunday.

[@bgardiner2000]

I wish Quinny and all his connections a speedy recovery. Would be a very sad loss to the sport to not see him race again.

[@bgardiner2000]

@coolsofo Yeah the last round should be brilliant. Although there is likely to be a few short. What do you think of Crombie vs Auckland Reactor?

[@bgardiner2000]

@coolsofo Inside the candy pole at the 600 there is quite a bit of leeway given to forcing horses wider. The soho cannes race was made to look worse with the horse on the outside moving down to hold his line. The final should be one for the ages. I honestly can't see ITMQ getting beaten with the pace you know that is going to be in the race from the out-set. Definitely a race in 4.

[@bgardiner2000]

@coolsofo Villagem, Make Mine Cullen? There is a question mark around some of the good Kiwis (e.g. Smiling Shard) re: whether or not they handle the track. I think a lot of horses have been frightened off by the quality of the home brigade. Especially with ITMQ. He is probably better off with a bad draw. So long as there is some pace in the race/s. And the other 3 ensure that. Should be a very interesting series. Been a long time since a WA horse won a series at Gloucester Park.

[@bgardiner2000]

@emmelby He had the same soft run as Quinnie, and while he did finish a few lengths behind him also started his run behind him and didn't have the benefit of the first move. I was very impressed with the run, especially given the time they ran.

[@coolsofo]

@bgardiner2000 Horses like Washakie, Lombo Pocket Watch need to have some luck to make the final. ITMQ 2nd heat win was an soft extremely win which is all good going forward. Cant wait for Friday.

[@coolsofo]

@bgardiner2000 Yes I too thought 2.85 after the pacing cup was skinny, especially against the quality horses that a Interdon series brings. It will be interesting to see what the final jump price will be? I still think it will be 2-2.50 as the money has come for the other big 3 in the last couple of days.

[@coolsofo]

@bgardiner2000 Sorry I didnt respond earlier comp on the blink! Yeah all has gone to as thought after 2 nights of heats and its starting to take shape. ITMQ,Smoken Up, Auckland Reactor all outstanding on both nights as was Crombie. An improved effort from Mr Feelgood in 2nd round of heats. Interesting to see heat fields for 3rd round. Some horses on the fringe like Mysta Magical Mach, Lombo Navigator, Rocket Reign, Has The Answers, Hesa Buzzin, David Hurcules would like good draws

[@Frostfireglade]

From the looks of things, Quinne's one of the lucky ones--that horse just has such a tremendous fighting spirit. I'm a bit confused though--thought Gary said he wouldn't take the horse out of WA again, but he's talking about the Vic Cup?

[@coolsofo]

@bgardiner2000 I hope your right! The only spanner in the works I can see is if AR tries to park in front of ITMQ and leaves it late to make his run and MrFG & SU try to crawl up front once settled. But yes tactics wize, I think everything is in his favour with were all are drawn!

[@paulsemertzidis6269]

Northern Hemisphere pacers specialise in the mile run, It's not a common distance for top level races in Australia and NZ. I'd expect the yank to salute over the 1609m

[@bgardiner2000]

@coolsofo I rated (and still do) Crombie a better 4yo than David Hercules. I found that out the hard way just before David Hercules went East. Yes Baltic eagle was a nice horse. He probably made the most of a slight lull in the grand circut ranks to win an inters. How do you see this series panning out?

[@bgardiner2000]

@coolsofo I can only echo those sentiments. I can remember some pretty good S&S horses. Thorate, Jay Bees Fella, Master Musician come to mind. But I've never seen a horse with the speed advantage of a good clip like he's got. I heard an interview with Gary Hall Jnr where he said that he knew he was travelling at the bell, but when he let him go at the top of the back straight he still didn't think he would be in front at the end of it.

[@bgardiner2000]

@TheRockyQ Yeah should be a good race. All 4 of the heats look pretty strong affairs. I'm a bit disappointed with the decision for 9 off the front... puts the ball right in Smoken Up's court.

[@bgardiner2000]

He ran in a trial at Byford a couple of weeks ago and was found to have heart fibrillations. The same thing that afflicted Blacks Afake late in his career. He's since been given a clean bill of health, but very few are any good after having issues such as this

[@bgardiner2000]

@TheRockyQ I know... I had exactly the same conversation with my father... using Raglan as a marker as they had similar runs and clearly Raglan was following (or trying to rather) Quinnie into the race and was left completely in his dust. Sushi sushi looks pretty special alright. But Smoken Up is as good a pace horse as I've seen and will be more than a yard-stick by which to measure SS against. For mine Quinnie is a super sit & sprinter but lacks the versatility that defines the greats.

[@bgardiner2000]

He said after the Inters final that they were aiming at the New Zealand Cup...I was hoping they would take in the Truer Memorial...

[@bgardiner2000]

There are half a dozen good horses in ANZ that would beat ITMQ over a mile more times than not. It's his abilty to run sub-27s quarters at the end of a mile and a half that make him such a stand-out.

[@coolsofo]

@bgardiner2000 Yes I agree with Mr Feelgood drawing 1, Smoken Up 6, ITMQ 7 and Auckland Reactor 9, I think there will be genuine pace in the race as Smoken up has to go foward so I think he will end up in the breeze. This sets it up for ITMQ especially with only a 9 horse field. Cant wait.

[@coolsofo]

@TheRockyQ Yes I cant believe Jr has'nt been rubbed out for the drive on soho canes. I think there maybe blind eyes being turned for the next week.

[@Frostfireglade]

Wow. Just...wow.

[@coolsofo]

@bgardiner2000 Yes I am very aware of David Hercules and his dominance in the east and it maybe debated as I thought he was the 2nd best 4yo behind Dasher VC last season. You could also throw Baltic Eagle into the group of ex-kiwis that have excelled in the WA climate as well. Its just a shame he had leg problems and we may have seen more Grand Circult success. But yes WA has produced great pacers over the years. Lets hope it continues!

[@bgardiner2000]

@coolsofo division. This has the pace on again for the last 1000m or so. Regardless of whether or not he needs to go 4, 5 or 6 wide.... or race across the grass past the bookies ring... I just can't see anything being able to withstand his electrifying ... in world record time.

[@coolsofo]

Yeah Crombie was a nice 4yo. I think David Hurcules improved when he went east.But Is surpose we will see where they at after the inters. Ratings agree with you as Crombie is 11 and David Hurcules 12

[@coolsofo]

@bgardiner2000 Yeah lets hope Mr Lewis can pour on as much pressure as possible but if Crombie did lead, would Lewis then hand up to Smoken Up?

[@bgardiner2000]

@coolsofo I'll be surprised if the Quinn doesn't start odds on.. once all the local money goes on him. I got 2.85 a week after the pacing cup... I thought it was very skinny. But I guess that's why bookies make so much money.

[@coolsofo]

@bgardiner2000 Yes I think over 2500 Crombie has a chance of beating Auckland Reactor especially with barrier 2 vs 7. I think he will win.I think Dasher VC can win the 3rd heat as well. Time will tell?

[@grengeg7373]

Raglin did pretty well too

[@bgardiner2000]

@coolsofo There are potentially many spanners... which is why I haven't mortgaged my house and laid a mega bet. Crombie has enormous early toe... I wouldn't at all be surprised to see him lead if MrF is slightly flat-footed. You can guarentee that Lewis will drive him aggressively.

[@bgardiner2000]

@coolsofo I'd be surprised if he did... epscially given his experience as fave in the 3rd round of heats. He is the smoky though...

[@bgardiner2000]

@coolsofo Last night on In The Gig they had him at 2.15. I've played the race over a thousand times and I just can't see him being beaten. The race should be frenetic for the first 800m as the horses inside Smoken Up establish their positions (Crombie / MMM). Once SU gets to the breeze (the only way he can win & it's unlikely that McCarthy would hand up on MrF) the speed will have to back off in the middle half. This would be the only time that AR would be able to get toward the leading ...

[@elishmund]

Sure is Paul, I'm in love ;)

[@bgardiner2000]

@coolsofo Washakie is out with a virus. Lewis drove a shocker on LPW on the first night. As did Brown on Lightning Raider... absolutely gifted the race to the quinn. I don't think they could have beaten him but they ran a 60+s first half & they sat in & waited for the last lap where you know they are going to run around 55 off a slow pace. I would have sacked them had they been on my horse.

[@mark3716]

Hall,junor,krrrok!

[@XxSodano]

I think the american horse Atochia would give him a run for his money at a mile right now.

[@mark3716]

???

[@bgardiner2000]

Speacialise? US races are only ever 1 mile. Had Quinny been born and raced in the US he'd have been an also ran. Fortunately ANZ harness racing has far more scope and variety... and is far more interesting.

[@Frostfireglade]

Any decent horse would give Im Themightyquinn a run for his money over the mile. He's not a mile pacer. The best horse in the world over cups distance, though.

[@XxSodano]

He might be good down under but if came to the states, i have a 10 claimer who would beat him by open lengths. The australians are afraid of american horses, Auckland Reactor couldnt even keep up with our open class horses forget our free for allers lol