Hulking pacer King Of Swing has successfully defended his title as the Australian Pacing Gold Grand Circuit champion with another outstanding season.
Fresh off his brilliant term in 2020, King Of Swing elevated his game even further this year with another commanding season highlighted by back-to-back titles of the Miracle Mile at TABCORP Park, Menangle.
The six-leg series was again severely disrupted by the effects of the global pandemic, Covid-19, but King Of Swing contested five of the six features staged throughout the term.
The series started in February with the running of the Del-Re National A.G Hunter Cup at TABCORP Park, Melton with the David Moran trained and driven Lochinvar Art proving triumphant over Alta Orlando and King Of Swing in the 2760m mobile start feature.
Lochinvar Art rated 1:54.8.
Kevin Gordon races the Modern Art entire.
Unfortunately, Lochinvar Art succumbed to injury and never raced again this year.
In March, the Garrards Miracle Mile at TABCORP Park, Menangle was up next and King Of Swing scored a decisive victory over his stablemate Expensive Ego and Wolf Stride.
The Belinda and Luke McCarthy prepared entire rated 1:49.2.
In July, the Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship was held at Albion Park, millionaire mare Amazing Dream caused an upset by downing Rockin Marty, King Of Swing and Copy That in a gripping finish.
Prepared by Nathan Purdon and handled by Blair Orange, Amazing Dream rated 1:55.3 for the 2680m mobile start event.
The Pryde’s Easifeed Victoria Cup at Bendigo took place in October and the classy performer Max Delight scored over Triple Eight and King Of Swing in the 2150m mobile start feature.
Trained by David Aiken and driven by Chris Alford, Max Delight rated 1:53.2.
The only APG Grand Circuit event staged in the Shaky Isles this year was the New Zealand Cup at Addington, Christchurch and the Ray Green trained Copy That scored a clinical victory defeating Self Assured and South Coast Arden.
Copy That rated 2:00.0 for the 3200m stand start feature.
The series was completed with the TAB Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Grand Final at Menangle and ended in the most dramatic of circumstances.
Expensive Ego was first past the post in the 3009m mobile start feature but lost the race on protest when Boncel Benjamin successfully objected.
Boncel Benjamin is prepared by Jason Grimson and was driven by Josh Gallagher.
The winning mile rate was 1:55.7.
With a tally of 230 points, King Of Swing scooped the award from Expensive Ego (124), Amazing Dream – Copy That – Max Delight (120), Alta Orlando (110) and Boncel Benjamin & Lochinvar Art (100).
Amazingly, the Cobbitty Equine team of Belinda and Luke McCarthy prepared three of the leading scorers – King Of Swing, Expensive Ego and Alta Orlando.
King Of Swing is raced by Beth Richardson, Mark Congerton, Go Racing – Mick Harvey, Glen Moore, Sylvie MacGregor, Rob & Frank Patriarca, Sue Simmonds and Greg Richardson.
Congratulations to all involved with the mighty pacer.
And he becomes the first pacer to claim back-to-back titles since the might Lazarus who claimed the titles in 2017/18.
Other back-to-back champions include Christen Me (2014/15), Blacks A Fake (2008/09) and Our Sir Vancelot (1997/98).
Dual winners include Im Themightyquinn, Village Kid and Pure Steel.
Only two pacers have claimed triple Grand Circuit champion honours – Westburn Grant (1990/91 & 92) and Gammalite (1982/83 & 84).
The Australian Pacers Grand Circuit began in 1977 and was designed to be the showpiece of the Australian Harness Racing Industry with horses competing from every State within Australia.
In 1992, New Zealand was admitted, and the Circuit was later renamed the Australasian Grand Circuit.
By Chris Barsby for HRA
