Pulling from third moving to the final turn, Surrealist slid into contention at the head of the stretch and powered past breakaway-leader String Busters to win the $2,150 Johnny & Margaret Allan Ian Memorial Pace at Inverness Raceway on Sunday, July 29.
Surrealist sat fifth from post five as Stature Seelster swept to the front from post six, setting splits of :29.4 and :58.2 on the front. String Busters, sitting pocket, circled to the top after the half and kicked clear to a four-length lead moving to three-quarters. Surrealist drew towards the pacesetter following a 1:28.1 third quarter and was within two lengths of the lead at the head of the stretch. The Dana Getto-owned and trained 12-year-old son of Modern Art overtook odds-on favourite String Busters to win by two lengths at the wire with Twisted Frisco seven lengths back in third.
Paul Langille steered the gelding from the Run The Table mare Keeping Secrets. Winning his third race in 10 starts this season and his 73rd in 248 overall, Surrealist has earned $294,670 and paid $8.00 to win.
Shanghai B G went wire to wire in the $925 Dellena Wells Memorial when holding off 2-1 favourite Modern Best by a neck at the line in 2:01.3. The 11-year-old gelding by Shanghai Phil, from the Scoot Outa Reach mare Canaco Lisa, took control from post three and led unpressured through a :30.3 opening quarter.
Modern Best, fourth at the quarter, edged first over heading to the half and parked wide of the pacesetter through a 1:00.2 half and three-quarters in 1:31.2. Shanghai B G's lead shrunk to a neck hitting the top of the stretch with the James Copley trainee maintaining that margin to the wire. Vital Art, stalking from the pocket, closed to finish a half-length back in third.
Owned by James and Ann Copley and Evan Gillis, Shanghai B G paid $11.90 to win as he collected his second win in 12 starts this season and his 45th in 191 overall, earning over $190,000. Mark Macquarrie was in the bike.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Inverness Raceway.