Class Acts; Chris Lewis and Ross Olivieri combined with Ima Spicey Lombo to win the APC at Gloucester Park
With the state's best pacer Im Themightyquinn missing from tonight's Gr.1 $125,000 Global Insurance Broking Australian Pacing Championship at Gloucester Park, it paved the way for another pacer to snatch feature race glory.
And the mighty mare Ima Spicey Lombo stood tall and beat up on the boys.
The Pacific Fella mare has raced in brilliant form this season and richly deserved her maiden Barastoc Grand Circuit victory for leading trainer/driver combination of Ross Olivieri and Chris Lewis.
Many would argue that Ima Spicey Lombo is the best mare currently racing in the country.
An invitation to next month's Gr.1 $100,000 Ladyship Mile at TABCORP Park, Menangle looks guaranteed if connections wish to go down that path.
As expected, tonight's event was keenly contested and the action started right from the outset with Aussie Reactor punching through strongly from his inside gate as he looked to hold the lead but Mysta Magical Mach also pushed hard at the start.
The lead time was covered in a snappy 33.8 seconds for the 2100m event.
With Aussie Reactor holding up from his inside draw for driver Kim Prentice, the pace remained constant as Mysta Magical Mach applyied solid pressure whilst his stablemate Has The Answers made a spirited bid three wide looking for a more forward position.
The first quarter of the last mile was posted in 28.8 seconds.
Aussie Reactor kept the leading position whilst Mysta Magical Mach also stood his ground leaving Has The Answers posted off the track.
The second quarter was in a controlled 30.8 seconds.
Champion reinsman Chris Lewis seized the opportunity to ease Ima Spicey Lombo out of her mid-field trailing position and find the back of Has The Answers who was stuck out three wide.
Entering the back straight the final time, Lewis cut loose on Ima Spicey Lombo as Has The Answers started to give ground quickly.
Aussie Reactor led from Mysta Magical Mach whilst Ima Spicey Lombo chimed in very strongly with her charge.
The trio raced off the back straight together in 29.5 seconds.
Rounding the home turn, Mysta Magical Mach quickly ran past Aussie Reactor but he was a sitting shot for Ima Spicey Lombo who powered to the front shortly afterwards.
At the finish, Ima Spicey Lombo scored by a 1m margin from a gallant Mysta Magical Mach whilst Alzona charged home to snatch third.
Can Return Fire caught the eye after making an early mistake, he managed to make up valuable ground in the straight to finish fourth.
The final quarter was posted in 28.7 seconds.
The winning mile rate was a race record 1.56.2 which easily eclipsed the previous best time of 1.56.5 set by Has The Answers when he proved successful last year.
“She's a great mare, thoroughly deserved winner of this race tonight,” declared winning driver Chris Lewis.
“Ross has done a super job with her all season long and it's fitting that she picks up a big race like this tonight.”
The victory gives Lewis back to back victories in the race after steering Has The Answers to victory last year.
Prior to tonight's victory, Ima Spicey Lombo had been placed in both the Fremantle and WA Cups behind Im Themightyquinn in her most recent starts.
Ima Spicey Lombo is raced by leviathan owner Mick Lombardo.
The win tonight elevates Ima Spicey Lombo to seven points on the Barastoc Grand Circuit leaderboard, six points behind current leader Smoken Up.
