Act Now - Victoria Cup 2023 Photo by Stuart McCormick
STAR pacer Act Now is trying to do a "Think Big" and successfully defend his Victoria Cup crown without winning a race in between.
More remarkably, the six-year-old has only raced twice since his upset win in last year's Cup and the most recent of those runs was a ninth at Bendigo way back on November 17, last year.
Think Big famously won back-to-back Melbourne Cups in 1974 & '75 for Bart Cummings without winning another race in between.
Act Now was an $81 outsider when he stormed home from a seemingly impossible position to win last year and is at similar odds at $61 in Saturday night's $300,000 feature at Melton.
But owner-breeder Bruce Edward insists there is a method in his daring preparation.
"It's how we planned it," he said. "It's quite deliberate, we wanted the horse fresh going into this race and other big races at the end of this year and early next.
"The theory is some of the big names have been in lots of big races already this year, and we'll be the fresh horse on the scene. Time will tell if we've done the right thing."
In his almost 11 months between races, Act Now, who boasts 21 wins from just 45 starts and almost $900,000, also took a step towards his career post-racing.
"He's an impeccably bred horse with huge stallion potential, so I took the opportunity to collect some semen from him – about 20 straws (batches) in total – and have it frozen to use with mares later this year and not have to interfere with his racing," Edward said.
Harness racing permits the use of artificial insemination using chilled or frozen semen.
"Even though he's achieved so much already, he's come back to racing to try and win another big race or two, hopefully, one of them in NSW so that he can be a commercially attractive stallion after racing," Edward said.
Those NSW targets are the $500,000 Sydney Inter Dominion final in December and the $1mil Miracle Mile at Menangle in March.
But Edward quickly warned punters not to overlook Act Now on Saturday night like they did last year.
"Don't worry about the lack of racing, he's ready," he said.
"He's had the two trials and loads of work with Clayton (Tonkin) and Emma (Stewart). Every workout day at their stables is like race day with the horses they've got.
"Clayton told me he couldn't be happier going into this week's race."
"Put it this way, he wouldn't be running unless Clayton and Emma thought he was in with a big chance."
Act Now's greatest weapon has been his early speed, and Edward is hopeful he will blast across from gate five and lead on Saturday night.
"Based on his history, there's a great chance of that," he said. "He goes so well in front. He's such a hard horse to get past. I think that's our best chance of winning if Jodi (Quinlan, driver) can get him to the front."
Edward is hoping for a less dramatic Victoria Cup night than last year when Act Now lashed out in the stalls before the race and straddled a metal rail with a hind leg.
It was touch-and-go if the vets cleared him to run in the Cup, which he flashed home to win, beating stars Catch A Wave and Leap To Fame in a thrilling three-way finish.
