LOCAL harness racing enthusiast Gary Clark enjoyed one of his biggest thrills in the sport after Reigning Pepper saluted at Wagga Paceway on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Wayne Potter-trained pacer took out the lucrative final of the $51,000 Group 2 NSW Breeders Challenge (1740m) with Amanda Turnbull in the sulky.
The $3.50 second favourite upset the odds-on fancy Game Set Major ($1.40-fav).
As expected, Game Set Major made the most of the his pole draw to lead the field over the sprint trip.
Reigning Pepper enjoyed an economical trip behind the favourite with Turnbull waiting until the home straight to make her winning move.
Once straightening for home, Reigning Pepper burst through on the sprint lane and proved too strong over the concluding stages.
IN OTHER NEWS
The three-year-old defeated Game Set Major by just over two metres with Colossal Stride ($21) third.
Reigning Pepper returned a slick mile rate of 1:52.9.
Clark said it was exciting to be a part-owner in the promising pacer.
"He is a promising horse and has done a terrific job for us in the six starts he has had so far," Clark said.
"He has won three and has two seconds and a third and $43,000 in prizemoney for us, so we're happy.
"When he won the heat to qualify for the final we got 40/1 thankfully before he started at 12/1.
"The beauty of it all I had a few fixed doubles with other gallopers in Doomben and Melbourne.
"You wouldn't believe it, they all lobbed.
"I had to go down and buy a wheel barrow from Bunnings to carry the winnings after I cashed in."
Reigning Pepper ran 1:52.04 in the heat which is a class record and only a fraction outside the track record of 1:52.03.
Clark is also a part-owner in Shadow Reign who started favourite in the Albury Pacers Cup in February and finished third after not handling the smaller track.
Shadow Reign is a half-brother to Reigning Pepper.
Reigning Pepper has headed to the spelling paddock for a freshen-up after the impressive victory.
The pacer was previously trained by Darren Hancock in Sydney before joining the Potter stable this season.
Clark said Potter expected Reigning Pepper to be even better as a four-year-old.
"Wayne said before the final, whatever happens he is going to be a better horse next preparation," he said.
"There is a few other locals in the horse including Geoff and Herbie Stratton and Don Williams.
"This is the best pacer I've been associated with and I'm just hoping he can go on to bigger and better wins next preparation."