IN some ways Nyack’s third in the $1 million Ladbrokes Inter Dominion final felt like a win to Jimmy Rattray.
The Tasmanian bred-and-owned pacer ran the race of his life to finish behind champions Captains Mistress and Leap To Fame in one of the greatest Australian harness races, let alone Inter Dominion finals, of all time at Albion Park last Saturday night.
Nyack came from a mile back and ran the fastest last 800m of any runner, a scorching 54.6sec, to finish just 14.2 behind the winner, Captains Mistress.
Adding further credit to the performance, the GPS race report showed Nyack covered 41m extra ground away from the marker pegs during the race, compared to just 12m for the winner. That’s remarkable.
“He was great, not just in the final, but right through the series,” Rattray said. “It was good to go back after we felt unlucky to miss the final last year and show what he’s capable of.
“We felt we had him as good as ever going into the series and he raced up to that.”
Nyack ran second to Leap To Fame in his first heat and then second again to Dangerous on night two, before his huge run in the final.
“You couldn’t ask anymore of him, especially when he drew out the back (row). It feels like a win in itself because Leap To Fame and Captains Mistress are both champions, so running third to them is about as much as you can hope for,” Rattray said.
“Not only did he run third, but he put a gap between the rest (Minos was 6.5m away in fourth spot) and the way he hit the line so strongly was exciting.
“It was a huge thrill and we’re incredibly proud of him.”
Of course, Rattray has already won two Inter Dominion finals with the great Tasmanian pacer Beautide in 2014 and ’15.
So, what’s next?
“He’s pulled up super, which is also fantastic,” Rattray said. “He’ll have a little freshen-up and then we’ll aim towards the (Group 1) Victoria Cup in October, which is the next big feature race on the calendar.”
With Leap To Fame and Captains Mistress very unlikely to contest the race, Nyack would be one of the main chances.
Nyack was clearly the best of the three finalists with a deep Tasmanian connection, along with Fighter Commnad who was bred in Tasmania.
Max Delight, bought as a yearling and owned by Tasmanian Mick Maxfield, did a remarkable job to finish eighth after a torrid run.
Contesting a remarkable fourth final in his fifth Inter Dominion series, 10-year-old Max Delight was trapped three-wide with nowhere to go early and driver Will Rixon eventually had to snag back to last.
To be able to get going again and still beat home five rivals was an enormous performance and he continues to defy his age after winning the Group 1 Nullarbor at Gloucester Park in April.
Reigning Tasmanian Harness Horse of the Year, the Rohan Hillier trained-and-driven Triedtotellya, also lost no admirers in ninth spot at his first real test in the big league.
“We came to try and make the final and live the dream and we did,” Hillier said. “We knew going into the final he wasn’t up to those absolute big guns and that’s how it played out, but he did us proud.
“I’m sure the trip and experience racing at that level will make him an even better horse. He’s so inexperienced compared to most of the horses in that final and what a final it was.”
· Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
PHOTOS:- Nyack - Club Menangle/Pacepix
