Blacks A Fake, Australia’s top pacer these past three years, was back second last early from its second row draw, with Grant Dixon stuck three-wide before dropping into the ‘death’ seat with I Am Sam.  Anthony Butt gave Gotta Go Cullen NZ the run of the race on the back of the favourite. 

Gavin Lang attempted to make the most of the great recent form of Robin Hood by switching it out three wide to tack onto the back of Manwarra Goforgold when Brian Gath sent that pacer forward.  But the steady speed being carved out by the leader had those out wide working overtime. 

While the ‘Major’ saluted from Gotta Go Cullen NZ and Mister Swinger, the sectionals for the last mile told the story of the sustained speed set by the winner;  reeling off the sections for the last mile in 28.7 seconds, 30.9, 28.1 and 28.3.  The mile rate of a fast 1:55.8 easily smashed the race record for this distance of 2575m. 

The chances of Blacks A Fake and Robin Hood were not improved when they briefly locked wheels some 120 metres from the finishing post. 

Divisive (Peter Rixon) had many supporters before the race, but he lost a forward position early to be shuffled back through the field and was at the tail racing for the home-turn the final time.  He was a most disappointing ninth. 

Owner Don Smith 74, who recently refused a one-million dollar plus offer for his champion, stated then he did not need the money and was having a ball with the rise to the top of Australian harness racing with Melpark Major.  A usually reserved man, he had every reason after the race to be cock-a-hoop. 

Some 25 years back Smith sold his farm on Sydney Road to a developer.  He then established stables at Melton, next to trainer Clinton Welsh.  His best previous horse was the trotting mare Melpark Maid.  He is justifiably proud that Melpark Major, the likely early favourite for the Queensland Inter Dominion in March 2009, is a five generations home-bred horse.  He did not go out and use his money to find a good one, taking the longer route of trying to breed it.  

Melpark Major has now won 22 of his 49 lifetime starts for more than $600,000 – and the best seems yet to come. 

The champion Kiwi stallion, Changeover NZ, winner of the New Zealand Cup on November 11, could finish only fifth.  His disappointing failure in the Miracle Mile at his previous start was put down to having been dehydrated with his trip from Auckland to Sydney. 

He fared much better around the more spacious Moonee Valley track on Saturday night, and could be coming back to his best.  He is too good at his best to be discarded from being a top chance in the forthcoming legs of the Barastoc Pacers Grand Circuit Series.  

When it comes to marking a great horse like Blacks A Fake for its sixth, this winner of the past three Inter Dominion Championships might well be at the crossroads so far as retaining its greatness.  

He still leads the points table for the 2008-2009 Barastoc Grand Circuit by three points from Melpark Major by virtue of the two ‘kills” in Queensland at the beginning of the series before the horses from the southern states joined the series.  Vet inspections have to date failed to fault his condition.  Can he regain those extra two or three lengths now required to be a worry for Melpark Major? 

The Group One spotlight moves next to Tassie where the Wrest Point Casino Tasmanian Pacing Cup is ran in Hobart (December 21).  The series then moves to the west for the Stallion Station’s Fremantle Cup on January 9, and the following night in Adelaide for the South Australian Pacing Cup.  Perth then hosts the WA Pacing Cup on January 16, and a week later the Australian Pacing Championship.