Albion Park Update

Saturday evening saw the inaugural running of the Listed Be Good Johnny Sprint over 1660m at Albion Park in the harness racing action in Brisbane. A top-class field assembled for the $25,000 prize with Mr Feelgood, winner of the 2009 Inter Dominion Pacing Championship, and Blacks A Fake, winner of the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010 Inter Dominion both in the line-up.

Having been beaten by Mr Feelgood at Albion Park on 2nd October over 1660m, Blacks A Fake was out to reverse the placings in Saturday’s feature contest.

Mr Feelgood, driven by regular partner Luke McCarthy, took up the early lead just before the first turn with Blacks A Fake and Natalie Rasmussen sitting in second, just off the leader for the first 1200m. Blacks A Fake gradually reduced Mr Feelgood’s lead to a neck upon reaching the 400m mark.

On entering the home straight, McCarthy kicked for home and Mr Feelgood, winner of America’s Little Brown Jug in 2006, drew a length ahead. Blacks A Fake instantly began to claw back the deficit for Rasmussen and the winners of over $7,000,000 did battle all the way to the wire.

Blacks A Fake, despite his tenacious effort, had to settle for second best once more with Mr Feelgood prevailing by a neck in a mile time of 1:52.9, just eight-tenths of a second outside of his own track record.

A further showdown between the two champions is now set for 30th October at Albion Park in the $200,000 Queensland Pacing Championship over 2609m. Blacks A Fake has won the last two renewals of this grade one contest and the extra trip will favour the 10-year-old but Mr Feelgood, fresh from his two recent victories, will be looking to land the hat-trick over his rival, so bear this in mind when you take a look at the harness racing odds.