THE popular Minister’s Gift series was thrown into chaos when the fifth heat of the series was declared a no-race in Launceston tonight.
The first four heats were run without a hitch but the fifth and final heat of the night became a nightmare for event organisers.
Byron’s Choice, which fell at the first turn, ran back into the field and rejoined the race in the home straight causing interference to a number of runners.
Stewards had no option but to declare a no-race.
Club officials and stewards were working on a suitable outcome which is likely to be a random draw for points in the abandoned heat but a final decision won’t be made until later in the week.
The Minister’s Gift comprises two rounds of heats with the first round run in Launceston last Monday night with the second round to be held at Devonport on October 19.
The top eight point scorers from those heats earn a berth in the final to be run over 461 metres in Hobart on October 28 with the winner to earn a stake of $10,000.
Each heat winner earns 11 points with eight allocated to second while third earns six points.
Fourth place gets four points reducing by one point through to seventh with last place earning no points.
Smart dog Samurai Kid staked his claim on a final berth with a remarkable win in his heat.
Samurai Kid, prepared by Jillian Stamford, was slowly away from box four but tracked into the race to be third heading down the back straight.
Rounding the homer turn he forced a gap between the leaders Kialdu Eddy and Cyndiana Star and he burst through to take the lead and then staved off a late bid from Posh Gem to defeat that dog by almost a length with Cyndiana Star hanging on for third.
Another impressive heat winner was talented bitch Ella Lucy that is owned and trained by Butch Deverell.
Ella Lucy flew the lids from box five and held the lead through the first turn.
She extended her lead down the back and while feeling the pinch on the line she had enough in reserve to hold a three-quarter length margin over Dang Shen that had the leader in her sights the entire journey.
Ella Lucy stopped the clock at 30.16 sec which was the fastest of the four heat winners.
Daegan, a litter brother of star sprinter Damek, gave himself a chance of making the final with an impressive win in his heat.
Daegan began brilliantly from box six and led easily to the first turn. He extended his lead to three lengths down the back and then staved off all challenges in the home straight to score by over a length from Capetown Kid with Macey’s Dream a half-length astern.
Daegan stopped the clock at 30.19 which was way off his personal best of 29.93.
The remaining heat was won by Posh Larry that came from behind to outgun Cope and Callamac Blaze in a time of 30.38.