Brighton. Photo by Arclight Photography
GLOBE Derby has a rich history as the launching pad for harness racing’s superstars.
The great Our Sir Vancelot won the first of his then record three successive Inter Dominion finals at SA’s home of harness racing in 1997, then the mighty Blacks A Fake scored the second of his record for Inter Dominion victories in 2007.
More recently, superstar mare Encipher toyed with her rivals to win the 2021 Southern Cross 2YO fillies’ final enroute to a 30-start career which netted 18 wins, four at Group 1 level, placings and a thumping $1,635,479 in prize money.
Encipher banked a place in history when she gunned-down champion pacer Leap To Fame to win the inaugural running of the world’s richest pacing race, the $2.1mil TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 2, last year.
There are lots of synergies between Encipher and Saturday night’s raging hot Southern Cross final favourite Brighton, whose connections will be hoping she can scale such great heights.
Encipher was bred and owned in Kadina by Tyson Linke, while Brighton is also an SA-product raced and bred by Mark Carey.
Both are trained by premier Victorian trainer Emma Stewart.
And the pair humbled their rivals in qualifying heats.
Excitingly, Brighton looked even better in her heat than Encipher did three years ago, clearing out to win by 25.4 metres in a scorching 1min54.4sec mile rate for 1800m, compared to the 1min57.7sec Encipher went.
Brighton hasn’t been the instant hit on the track on the track Encipher was with last Saturday being her first win in six starts, but it had all the hallmarks of a turning point given the dominance.
And this Southern Cross 2YO fillies’ final has been a rich hunting ground for Stewart, who has won six of the past 13.
Even if Brighton doesn’t reach Encipher’s lofty heights, some of Stewart’s other winners have seriously kicked-on, too.
Her 2015 winner Rocknroll Magic won 24 races and $466,183 in the prize money, while 2011 victor Beauty Secret was similar with 24 wins and $425,921.
Others include: 2020 winner Treachery (15 wins and $336,324); 2019 winner Treasure (12 wins and $161,402) and Our Celebrity, who won the 2016 final and went on to post 12 wins and bank $130,019.
In an exciting sign of the times, Brighton will be an all-female affair on Saturday night. A filly, trained by Stewart and piloted by veteran and trailblazing female driver Gaita Pullicino.
Stewart and Pullicino will also team with hot favourite No Notthebuttons in the 3YO colts and geldings’ final. He’s trying to defend the 2YO title he won last year.
· Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
