By Michael Guerin
MELBOURNE - Special Force earned something a lot more valuable than Aussie dollars at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
The Pukekohe trotter dealt to Australia's best trotters for the second time this month with a gutsy victory in the final heat of the Australasian Trotters Championships.
The 5-year-old had to bring his best to the race, being forced three wide for a long way before pressing on to first bully the lead off Kiwi mare Solar Fire and then outstay Aussie star Knight Pistol.
It was a commanding performance but driver Todd MacFarlane said the real worth of the win may still be a week away.
"After the way he won tonight he will get a lot more respect from the other drivers," MacFarlane said.
"He could just as easily have been parked out but he had enough gas to reach the front and then still kick on. He won pretty easily.
"After that he will be able to make mid-race moves in the future without too many challenges."
Special Force's manners coupled with his new-found respect could help him put some room between himself and hotshot backmarkers Knight Pistol and Buster Hanover.
"That will be important because while he is trotting as well as them they will really come into their own over the 3280m next week," MacFarlane said.
Special Force wasn't the only northern trotter earning respect on Saturday night, with Sundon's Way convincing trainer Mark Purdon he will rival stablemate Buster Hanover as a winning hope on Saturday.
"Buster is trotting as good as when he won this series last year but the way Sundon's Way trotted tonight he will be just as good a chance next week," Purdon said.
Horse Racing: Special Force eearns respect
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