Sushi Sushi rolls the opposition in the Bendigo Pacing Cup

Sushi Sushi - Greg Sugars
13 January 2013 - There was nothing fishy about Sushi Sushi’s return to form in last night’s Group 2 $50,000 PETStock Bendigo Pacing Cup. In fact, even with the tricky draw and last start eighth, albeit in the Victoria Cup, punters latched on to an old crowd favourite in what proved to be another success story in his distinguished career.
The win notched up win number 27 for the Freddy Taiba trained gelding which included an historic run that paralleled Black Caviar’s streak. It was a night for the sentimental fans with Smoken Up taking out the Group 2 South Australia Pacing Cup in what was a sensational ten-minute window for the sport. The PETStock Bendigo Pacing Cup was run minutes later and it proved just as memorable with Sushi Sushi nailing Mah Sish on the corner. Auckland Reactor loomed as the big danger however it wasn’t to be with the son of Art Major finding plenty as Mah Sish fought back for second. Greg Sugars, driving Sushi Sushi, found himself in a nice trailing run early before hooking three-wide down the back straight on the final time, and from there he cruised up to the leaders and never looked in doubt as they ran for home. The race was filled with drama with second favourite Mustang Mach choking down during the run and falling with less than a lap remaining, changing the complexion of the race. Highview Tommy led them up early however was under pressure from a fair way out, leaving his stable mate and race favourite Auckland Reactor nowhere to go as the other two race favourites made their run. Natalie Rasmussen eventually extricated her pacer from the fence and had enough time to chase the leaders but couldn’t bridge the gap. The race was run in an a mile rate of 1:58.2 however they ripped home the last half in 54.7 with the last quarter in a blistering 26.9.In the other main race of the night at Bendigo My Escapee stamped herself as a top-class trotting mare when disposing of her opposition in the Group 2 Aldebaran Park Maori Mile with ease that belied the final margin.
The record books will read a margin of a head over the $1.70 favourite, I Didn’t Do It, however her barnstorming finish was something to behold as she sprinted down the extreme outside of the track. It was the finishing burst of a mare that has plenty more to give. With 24 starts under her belt in her homeland of NZ the sky now appears the limit for My Escape who can only firm Mark Purdon’s stranglehold on the Australian harness features this year. I Didn’t Do it lost no admirers, after working hard to find the early lead, he continued to carve out quick sectionals with Aleppo Sunrise pouring the pressure on for much of the race. As they turned for home he appeared to have a little left in the tank and shot away with Cold Sister coming off his back to look the only danger. However they didn’t count on My Escapee who simply shot past them late. The winner completed the race in a mile rate of 1:57.4.- HRV                                                  
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