The night belonged to trainer Lance Justice as he took first place in two of the three metropolitan events, including the Blacks A Fake FFA.  Punters who backed the Justice-trained Our Malabar at $10.20 odds will be happily counting their winnings as the bay gelding put on an impressive performance to take first place.  He overcame a wide barrier draw, sitting just outside Megasam through the opening splits.  He then worked his way up to the front of the field just before 800m.

Our Malabar beat out quite a field of stayers to take the first place finish.  This included Just Callme Cullen, who finished in a close second place, and Cincinnati Kid who took third place 4.00 off the leader.  He even beat out the much touted Tanabi Bromac who was expected to do well in his return to harness racing.  The KP Cotchin-trained gelding finished in fourth position.

2010 Blacks A Fake FFA Results:

There was plenty of pacing action going on at Gloucester Park with the 2010 Media Guild Cup.  The $17,500 race pit the unstoppable Has The Answers against a field of stayers hoping to knock the Tony Svilicich horse off his pedestal.  They’ll have to wait another day as the brown gelding took his second consecutive win of the new pacing season.

Has The Answers was the $1.30 favourite to win this one, and he didn’t let punters down.  Showing fantastic gate speed, the horse led throughout the race.  He finished in first position to take the $11,725 prize.  Gary Bromac – somewhat of an unlikely contender at $53.00 odds – finished in second place. Touch Me Toes took third.

Has The Answers’ stable mate Mysta Magical Mach was expected to do well in this one, though the gelding’s restrained start saw him go wide early on.  He led one wide at the line to finish in fourth position.

Another weekend has wrapped up, but the pacing action continues throughout the week.  Don’t forget to get to SportsBet to check out all the odds on the pacing taking place throughout Australia.

2010 Media Guild Cup Results:

Plenty of harness racing fans (and punters) will be eagerly awaiting the race as it will be another appearance by the all-dominating Has The Answers. Not only that, but driver Chris Lewis is seeking his fifth Media Guild Cup title. The master reinsman drove Village Kid to Media Guild Cup victory in 1987 and 1991. He followed it up with a win with Paly (2002) and No Blue Manna (2007). A fifth title is likely in the cards for this experienced driver as there doesn’t seem to be another pacer out there that can keep up with the blistering speed of Has The Answers.

The brown gelding will be going into this race as the odds on favourite to win, and it’s no wonder as he has developed a reputation for being quick out of the gate as well as a strong stayer that normally controls the pace. Has The Answers has one win in one start this season as he came in first place in the New Seasons Pace just a week ago. He finished a full 5m over second place Motu Treasure. Punters interested in taking a stab at this year’s Media Guild Cup would be crazy not to back this horse for the win. He will be starting from barrier number six.

Stable mate Mysta Magical Mach is once again being touted as the only horse that could possible keep up with Has The Answers. The Tony Svilicich-trained horse also has a knack for starting strong and developing strong speed through the race. In fact, the bay gelding placed third in the New Seasons Pace and second (behind Has The Answers) in last season’s Spring Stakes. The Media Guild Cup should see another top effort from the pacing contender.

Other horses that are expected to do well include Gary Bromac (barrier two), Sheer Royalty (barrier eight), and Albert Jaccka (barrier five).

The Media Guild Cup will be race number seven on the night’s card, starting at 8:50pm. Be sure to get to SportsBet to check out all the available odds on this and all of the pacing events going on at Gloucester Park this Friday night.

2010 Media Guild Cup Field & Barrier Draw:

The David Aiken-trained Karlsruhe ($7.20) raced out wide to snare victory from the Lance Justice-trained and driven favourite Smoken Up ($1.40) by racings closest margin, a short half-head, with Pacific Charm ($16.90) who used the sprint lane just over four metres back in third.

It was a frustrating result for recent millionaire Smoken Up who has finished in the placings without a win in his last eight from nine races.

Make Waves took advantage of their number one barrier to lead early on, still sitting at the front on the bell. Following closely was the short priced favourite Smoken Up with Pacific Charm on the pegs running third with just under a lap to go.

With 800m left to travel Karlsruhe was sitting second last, driven patiently by David Moran.

Make Waves held a four metre lead to Smoken Up with 600m to go. Heading into the straight Smoken Up accelerated closing the gap between him and the leader, while Pacific Charm went into the express lane and Karlsruhe was running four deep.

On the final straight Karlsruhe had a brilliant run out wide. Smoken Up hit the lead but Karlsruhe put in a gallant chase and came head-to-head with the favourite finishing in nearly a dead heat. There was nothing in it, Karlsruhe just managing victory by a short half head while pacemaker Make Waves faded to finish seventh.

A fast paced race saw Karlsruhe run his career best winning mile rate of 1:54.2, which was 1.5s faster than the previous record shared by Tintin In America and Just Callme Cullen.

Karlsruhe has now won 18 of their 103 race starts for over $234, 000 in prizemoney.

Another major pacing event that took place on Friday night was the $20, 500 XXXX Gold Autumn Championship at Gloucester Park where the talented Tony Svilicich-trained Has The Answers ($1.20 fav) claimed an emphatic 8.4m victory ahead of Gee Whiz Fizz ($10.9) with the longest priced contender Dark Sky ($59.40) in third.

2010 SEW Eurodrive Markonvina Free For All Results:

A small but superior field of eight pacers are set to contest the Markovina FFA headlined by Lance Justice’s superstar Smoken Up.

The brilliant Tinted Cloud gelding pushed his career prizemoney to over $1 million last start when he ran a gallant third in the Group 1 Watpac Inter Dominion behind Blacks A Fake, becoming one of Australasia’s highest-earning standardbreds of all time.

Smoken Up, winner of 33 of his 71 career starts to date, has drawn on the outside-front-row with barrier seven on Saturday but his experience and ability mean he is still the hot favourite.

Rivals of Smoken Up who will be looking to sneak in with an upset win in the Free For All include Make Waves drawn well in barrier one, the Lisa Miles-trained and driven Pacific Charm in two and classy Live Or Die gelding Notaswethort coming off a third place in the Geelong Cup starting on the inside of Smoken Up in barrier six.

The other quality pacing feature to be held around the country on Friday night is the $20, 500 XXXX Gold Autumn Championship at Gloucester Park featuring Tealsby Karita and the gifted Has The Answers.

The 2010 Markovina Free For All will take place as the second race at Tabcorp Park’s excellent nine-event programme on Friday night and is due to commence at 7:10pm (VIC time).

The 2010 SEW Eurodrive Markovina Free For All Final Field & Barrier Draw:

Starting the race as the hot favourite at $1.40, the Tony Svilicich-trained Has The Answers lead all the way to defeat Kinneys Gold ($18.60) by 7.40m with roughie Tealsby Karita ($34.80) in third after an impressive run that saw them sitting second behind the leader until the very end.

It was a disappointing finish for the second elect, Gary Halls’ Spirit Of Shard ($7.20) who was restrained after the start and unable to get a clear run crossed the line in seventh place. Hall’s other runner was last start Lord Mayor’s Cup winner Talk To Me Courage ($9) who finished fourth.

Has The Answers breezed to the front right from the start gaining a brilliant clear run from his wide draw barrier six. Kinneys Gold got into second position early but was soon overtaken by Tealsby Karita.

It was a gallant effort from eventual third placegetter Tealsby Karita who began poorly but made up ground moving from the middle of the pack to finish in the money.

Controlling the pace throughout the 31.5 first quarter Has The Answers kept a solid three metre lead to Tealsby Karita who had crept up to snatch second position from Kinneys Gold. Over the second quarter Tealsby Karita edged closer to the leader, shortening the margin between them to just a metre on the turn.

With one lap to go Has The Answers held strong while Teaslby Karita gave chase and got within a head of the leader but Has The Answers had plenty left in the tank and galloped away reeling off third and final quarters of 29.2 and 27.5 for the win, his terrific final burst of speed widening the winning margin to nearly seven and a half metres.

Kinneys Gold made a charge up the inside to place second with Teaslby Karita a close third.

Has The Answers, a son of Legacy Of Power out of No Questions, ran a sharp mile rate of 1:58.0 in the Governors Cup and has now won 32 of his 111 career starts for $515, 894 in prizemoney.

2010 Governors Cup Results:

Nine top pacers are set to start in the 2130m mobile start feature including  the top three placegetters in last Friday night’s Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup – Talk To Me Courage, Spiritwithin and Spirit Of Shard.

Talk To Me Courage and Spirit Of Shard are both trained by prolific horseman Gary Hall Snr. and both have drawn wide for the Governor’s Cup.

The consistent Spirit Of Shard will start from barrier seven while the highly fancied Courage Under Fire gelding Talk To Me Courage is on the far outside in ten.

The top pick in the 2010 Governor’s Cup is the brilliant Tony Svilicich-trained Has The Answers. The champion seven-year-old Legacy Of Power gelding is coming off a last start victory in the Chinese New Year Cup and also has a recent Group 1 Australian Pacing Championship win up his sleeve. He will jump from barrier six with driver Chris Lewis on Saturday night as he attempts his 16^th win from 32 starts at Gloucester Park over his favoured 2130m distance.

Has The Answer is sure to start as the odds-on favourite in the event, and if he lives up to expectations as the powerful pacer looks ready to do, he will become the first favourite to take out the Governor’s Cup after three failed favourites in the last three years.

If successful, it will be Chris Lewis’ first win in the Cup too following a string of unsuccessful runs in the past three years that included two seconds with Earl Of Locksley and No Blue Manna and a sixth with Smooth Crusa last year.

Drawn ideally in barriers one and two are Kinneys Gold and the in-form Arma Harris coming off two successive victories – both worth keeping an eye on for a place here.

The 2010 Governor’s Cup is scheduled as race seven on the night’s cracker ten race card and is programmed to start at 8:45pm.

2010 Governors Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw:

A great line-up of 11 pacers are engaged in the event including Talk To Me Courage, Has The Answers and Tealsby Karita.

Last week’s Harvey Cup runner up Talk To Me Courage is trained by prolific horseman Gary Hall Snr. and has drawn barrier eight for Friday night.

Hall also has his consistent eight-year-old pacer Spirit Of Shard starting in five as the trainer goes for his fourth Lord Mayor’s Cup following his wins with Tricky Bey (2994), Abit Rich (1997) and Live To Reign (2007).

Winner of the Harvey Cup last-start is Tealsby Karita, the impressive gelding starting in six for the Lord Mayor’s Cup.

There is a lot of hype surrounding the Tony Svilicich-trained Has The Answers drawn in barrier nine, who is likely to starts as the pre-race favourite.

Coming off two successive victories and definitely in top form, the terrific seven-year-old Legacy Of Power gelding will have champion driver Chris Lewis behind the reins in the Cup as Lewis attempts his incredible ninth victory in the event.

Lewis has previously won with the brilliant Village Kid (1985, 1986, 1989 & 1990), Ballantines (1992), Desert Patrol (1993), Royal Motoring (1998) and Ohoka Ace (2005).

Byford trainer Svilicich also boasts an impressive record in the Lord Mayor’s Cup, having taken out two of the past three and prepared the runner-up in the other.

Svilichich’s past two winners were driven by Morgan Woodley when they were successful with Taihape Tickler (2006) and Mysta Magical Mach (2009).

Morgan Woodley will be the reinsman behind Flaming Roadstar this year from the back barrier 11.

Solid pacer Rostriever Ornum, drawn ideally in barrier three, is also representing Svilicich in the Lord Mayor’s Cup on Friday.

The Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup is scheduled as race seven on the night’s bumper 11-event card and is due to jump at 8:45pm (WA time).

2010 Lord Mayor’s Cup Final Field & Preview:

Starting from the front row barrier four as the $2.50 favourite, the Queensland trained Washaki beat home the Gary Hall-trained Im Themightyquinn ($4.70) by 1.2m with Our Malabar ($41.70) the surprise third placegetter an extra four metres back.

It was a rough and tumble affair with many of the top elects finding themselves restrained after the start and unable to get a clear run including Has The Answers ($5.60) who came in fifth behind Alzona ($40.40) the roughie who had a great run for fourth, and sixth placegetter Bonavista Bay ($6.50).

The eventual winner was four deep into the first turn after showing great gate speed and then found himself caught three wide early on. Washakie continued to have a tough run but pressed forward to get up and make his move on the outside of the leader, crossing Indian Giver to lead the way into the back straight.

Inside the 650m local hero Im Themightyquinn raced up to Washakie and gave it everything he had, the two racing head to head before Im Themightyquinn snatched the lead for a few metres. But it was Washakie who took home the title after pulling out a final burst of acceleration to pull away from his fast finishing rival to take the title by just over a metre.

Early leader Indian Giver lost pace and ran out of charge, stopping to a walk in the final stretch and eventually finishing a distant ninth.

The John McCarthy-trained and driven Washakie peeled off sensational quarter sectionals to run a record breaking mile rate of 1:56.3, beating Our Sir Vancelot’s previous race mile rate record of 1:57.3 set in 1998.  The $250 000 first place prizemoney raised his earnings to an impressive $699 945 from his 24 career wins.

Now a triple Group 1 winner, Washakie will move on to the $400 000 BIG6 Hunter Cup at Moonee Valley on February 6, for which he has now been penalised 10m.

The victory also saw Washakie elevate to third on the overall Barastoc Grand Circuit leaderboard with four races to go in the series. Washakie sits on 11 points, four behind the leader Monkey King.

2010 WA Pacing Cup Results:

The WA Cup is shaping up to be a sensational race with an elite field full of Group 1 winning champions eager to claim the lucrative prize and secure another prestigious victory.

Prolific trainer Gary Hall Snr. has four of his top pacers engaged in the final. Indian Giver has drawn ideally with barrier one, but Hall’s other more fancied horses Talk To Me Courage (br.7), Im Themightquinn (br.10) and Alzona (br.12) have all drawn wide.

Hall’s strong contingent will face some truly tough opposition from the likes of the Tony Svilicich-trained Has The Answers and Bonavista Bay, trained and driven by Mark Reed.

Has The Answers last victory was in the Group 1 Australian Pacing Championship a fortnight ago and the seven-year-old gelding will start from barrier nine on Friday night. He is also the most experienced pacer of the bunch having had 104 career starts.

Has The Answers will be driven by Chris Lewis, the chief reinsman competing in his 28^th WA Pacing Cup. Lewis has won the race a total of five times, the second highest number of wins in the event behind Phil Coulson with seven WA Cup victories.

Bonavista Bay is coming off a last start victory in the McInerney Ford Classic and has drawn barrier six in the WA Cup.

Also drawn well in the race and not to be overlooked is the winner of the 2009 Australian Pacing Championship Washakie. The John McCarthy trained and driven six-year-old is set to jump from barrier four and has a 50% strike rate at Gloucester Park, having won 7 of his 14 starts at the track.

Washakie is looking to atone for his unlucky seventh in the WA Pacing Cup last year.

The other highlight race of the meeting will be the WA Pacing Cup Consolation (race six).

The WA Pacing Cup final is scheduled as race seven on the night’s great 10-race programme and is set to start at 8:55pm (WA time).

2010 WA Pacing Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw:

Legacy Of Power gelding, the Tony Svilicich-trained Has The Answers ($3.80) lead from the early stages of the race, easily beating home the short-priced favourite, the Gary Hall-trained Im Themightyquinn ($2.60) by 5.6m with another of Hall’s runners Alzona ($17.10) finishing off the trifecta just a nose back from his stablemate.

The remainder of Hall’s contingent, Talk To Me Courage and Indian Giver finished fifth and ninth respectively as the prolific trainer along with his son missed out on their sixth APC victory in eight years.

Has The Answers was driven by star reinsman Chris Lewis, giving the driver his third win in the event, his first  Australian Pacing Championship victory since 1987 with Village Kid.

The winner ran a sensational mile rate of 1:56.5, the fastest Australian Pacing Championship time since the race began in 1976.

The winning pacer, who now boasts 27 wins from his 104 career starts, will next compete in the $400 000 WA Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park Friday week as trainer Svilicich aims for back-to-back WA Cup success following his win last year with Mysta Magical Mach.

The other big race of the night was the $50 000 Group 2 Nights of Thunder, which was won by six-year-old Scan Air just a neck ahead of the pre-race favourite Scruncher.

2010 Australian Pacing Championship Final Results: