SINCE Raymond Field's Switchem All In posted his maiden victory in April, the closest he had gotten to replicating that success was when finishing more than 10 metres off the pace.
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So on Wednesday at the Bathurst Paceway when the six-year-old Portland trained gelding sat four back on the pegs with a lap to travel in the Garrards Horse and Hound Pace (2,260 metres), few would have predicted what would follow.
He blew away his rivals after turning for home to win by 16 metres.
"Switchem All In at the top of the lane has dashed for home ... It's all Switchem All In," race caller Michael Dumesny declared.
Before the arms on the barrier folded back and the blistering burst of speed which took Switchem All In's record to two wins from 36 career starts, the race shaped as a battle of four.
Amanda Turnbull's Posh Accent was backed into $2.30 favouritism, but there was also plenty of support for Field's Switchem All In ($3.50), Prudent Master ($3.70) and Safely Under Wraps ($5.50).
The next in the line of betting was $51 long shot Alibi.
"Never have I seen such a discrepancy in a market, not for a long, long, long time," Dumesny said.
"There is a massive discrepancy between the fourth and fifth favourite."
As it played out the market was correct about the top four. But what it did not give an indication of was just how easily Switchem All In, with Brett Field in the gig, would do it.
From barrier one Shes The Other One led in the opening stages, but looking for a race-to-race double, Turnbull quickly came hunting with Posh Accent.
By the 400m mark Posh Accent had the lead.
The favourite looked in control, pinching a 50.1 seconds lead time then splits of 30.6 and 31.2 for the first half of the last mile.
In contrast Switchem All In was more than four lengths off the lead in seventh with a lap to travel.
But Posh Accent faded down the back straight and as Safely Under Wraps took the lead, Field had worked off the pegs. From there Switchem All In blazed to the lead, finishing 16m clear of second-placed Posh Accent.