By DAVID NAGEL
CHAMPION New Zealander Terror To Love has prevailed after a two-horse war with compatriot Christen Me to win Saturday night’s $100,000 Group 1 Decron Cranbourne Pacing Cup (2555m).
The two Kiwi superstars drew away from the field in the final lap, going eye to eye to produce a stunning finish that will long live in the memories of those in attendance.
A three-time New Zealand Cup winner, Terror To Love ($3.10) outstayed the Miracle Mile and Hunter Cup winner to win by a head, with Flaming Flutter 20-metres back in third place.
Driver Ricky May said a pre-race decision to try and test the $1.60 favourite in the second half of the event paid dividends in the end.
“We decided the only way we had a show of beating him (Christen Me) was to try and out-stay him,” May told Harness Racing Victoria post-race.
Terror To Love took his stake earnings to a tick over $2.3million with the win.
In the night’s other feature, the $1.20 favourite, Keystone Del, made it 10 wins on the trot with victory in the $50,000 Group 1 Aldebaran Park Bill Collins Trotters Mile (1609m).
Keystone Del made it 23 wins from 40 starts and took his prizemoney to beyond $630,000. Harness racing returns to Cranbourne this Saturday with a day meeting.
