Poised to dominate home track majors

ASTUTE horseman Greg Scholefield is poised to dominate his home track’s majors tomorrow night.

Hosting its flagship meeting, Mount Gambier will conduct the Pacing Cup and the Gold Cup.

The Pacing Cup is a free-for-all event with a stake of $9000, while the $9999 Gold Cup is for pacers with a National Rating between 52 and 64.

Only those who competed in last weekend’s heat can contest the Final.

Although he was runner-up in the qualifier, Scholefield is convinced Dont Need An Excuse can capture the Gold Cup.

“I wasn’t disappointed with him being beaten in the heat as I learnt something about him,” Scholefield said.

“It’s the first time I’ve raced him on such a tight track and Brent (Howard, driver) said he was thumping the wheel on the bend and then started pulling.

“He’s never done it before and must be swinging his leg out on the small track.

“He won’t be doing that tomorrow night as I’ll be putting extensions on.”

With Howard to take the reins once again, Dont Need An Excuse is a $1.50 favourite from barrier five.

“As long as he handles the track better, which I expect him to, he’s the one to beat,” Scholefield said.

Scholefield also has the $1.30 favourite – Stratofortess – in the Pacing Cup.

Successful in the Gawler Cup three weeks ago, Stratofortess was runner-up in last weekend’s Ouyen Cup.

The son of Art Major will also begin from gate five with Howard in the cart.

“Stratofortess should beat this lot,” Scholefield said. “No disrespect to the others, but it is a drop in class for him.

“With the exception of bad luck, it is hard seeing him being beaten.”