One of the biggest pacing races of the weekend was the $50,000 Group 2 Community Newspapers Western Gateway 3YO Pace (2130m) where the brilliant David Hercules smashed his rivals for a sensational win at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The Artesian gelding began as the hot pre-race favourite at $1.70 and lived up to all expectations coasting to an incredible 12.4m victory ahead of roughie Indomitable Saab ($49.70) with Crombie ($11.60) a further 1.5m back for third.

Lombo Navigator ($10) held on for a close fourth while other fancied pacers failed to fire with Grinjaro ($6.80) and Chillin Dylan ($9.7) finishing ninth and eighth respectively.

After blasting from his ideal barrier one, David Hercules found the lead early and maintained his dominance for an impressive all-the-way win.

Three-year-old David Hercules has now saluted in six of his 20 career starts and Friday night’s $33,500 first prize elevated his total earnings to $176,964.

Other pacing features that took place on Friday night included the $20,000 Simpson Memorial (2160m) at Harold Park.

Chariot King ($3.30) narrowly beat home the hugely popular Two Eye See ($3.10) by a neck with Just A Blue Chip ($16.10) 2.5m away in third.

First round heats of the Australian Pacing Gold for two-year-old colts and geldings were also conducted at Harold Park with Just Grange, Wotattitude, Veracity Red and Min Min Lights all securing a win.

Victoria’s Tapcorp Park was home to the other Australian Pacing Gold heats on Friday night, won by Royal Verdict, Jadahson, Mathias and Dee Deviot. Trainer Peter Tonkins and Emma Stewart prepared all of the APG heat winners at Tabcorp except Royal Verdict giving their Smythes Creek stable a great start in the series.

The second round heats for the APG will take place four days prior to the $300,000 final on April 23.

In-form pacer For A Reason, trained and driven by Luke McCarthy, has drawn ideally with barrier two. The brilliant Art Major Colt has displayed first class style of late, winning his past four from five starts but placing second in the heats last week.

For A Reason is one of three top colts representing Queensland in the prestigious Victorian event on Saturday night after blitzing the heats, alongside Lanercost and Major Bronski.

The classy Queensland pacer Lanercost, who took out heat one at Maryborough in sensational style, had all the luck in the barrier draw for last week and has been allocated the second row barrier 9 for the final. The colt is aiming for their fourth successive victory and will be driven by trainer Darrel Graham, who has expressed how pleased the draw.

Barrier nine will allow Lanercost, a son of Courage Under Fire, to sit behind the likely pacesetter For A Reason and hopefully find a forward position early on.

Also drawing wide for the final is the ever consistent and impressive Stuart Hunter-trained Major Bronski with barrier 11. Another three-year-old from super sire Art Major, Major Bronski took out heat 2 last Friday night ahead of For A Reason, giving him his ninth consecutive victory.

The third heat winner to qualify for the final was Lincoln Royal who claimed an emphatic victory ahead of Chariot King by 7.5m.

Lincoln Royal has drawn barrier eight this Saturday and will have Maurice McKendry in the sulky while Chariot King has drawn far better in barrier three.

The Alabar Victoria Derby falls as the sixth race at the meeting and is due to jump at 8:32pm (VIC time).

2010 Alabar Victoria Derby Final Field & Barrier Draw: