SCOUT SHOWS THE WAY FOR IN-FORM PACIFIC STABLE

Pacific Scout provides middle pin of treble for all-conquering Malaysian connections

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Odds-on favourite Pacific Scout had his backers sweating buckets at the top of the straight in Race 2 on April 27.

On his outside, jockey Bernardo Pinheiro was extracting the best out of his mount Sacred Gold, but was also doing a fine job keeping Pacific Scout and Jerlyn Seow in a tight pocket on the fence.

But they need not have worried.

Natural momentum, law of attrition and a good dose of patience - eventually saw the leader Wins Eight (Bruno Queiroz) weaken and roll off, leaving a gap wide enough for Pacific Scout to dive through.

The Deep Field four-year-old still had to put it away once he was in clear galloping room.

But, with both Sacred Gold and Wins Eight one-paced, and none of the backmarkers responding to their riders' urgings, the $8 favourite was home.

Sacred Gold stuck on gamely for second 22 lengths away, with Wins Eight hanging on for third, another 1/2-length away.

The winning time was a slick 58.77sec for 1,000m on the Polytrack.

Seow was a relieved jockey at the weigh-in. She knew the risks barrier No. 1 came with but thought they would be minimised if her horse was quick enough.