A WILD 30-metre gallop has seen Collective Works stripped of success at Sunday’s Boort Pacing Cup.
The race favourite led from the start before making contact with marker pegs, breaking, apparently  shifting into the sprint lane .
Collective Works galloped and interfered with other runners in a sensational 30 metres of the race.
But instead of dropping to the rear of the field, the Ewa Justice-driven Collective Works regained stride and soon shot back into the lead and never faltered for the final laps of the Boort Park track.
Streeting past the post by more than four metres from Lincoln River, it seemed all clear was given. But the sensation continued when a protest was lodged minutes later and stewards began their inquiry. The final race on the card was delayed more than 30 minutes while the protest was heard.
Stewards gave the cup to second favourite Lincoln River, trained and driven by Great Western’s Kerryn Manning, and elevated Cee Cee in America and Angus Indiana to the minor placings.
Lincoln River had finished second behind Western Sonador in January’s Wedderburn Cup. Both pacers have just one win each this year.
Collective Works was ultimately disqualified by stewards for re-entering the field after galloping and being inside the sprint lane at approximately the 1600-metre mark. 
Stewards ruled that that when Collective Works regained its correct gait whilst in the sprint lane, its driver Ewa Justice had than driven forward, gained an unfair advantage, and when rejoining the field near the 2100m, shifted out forcing Cee Cee In America wider.
They have adjourned the inquiry into Justice’s drive in the race.
Boort Trotting Club president Tim Byrne said he was pleased with the attendance at Sunday’s meeting.
People began arriving at lunchtime and the crowd had swelled to several hundred by late afternoon when the feature events were raced and star local vocalist Elias Lanyon was in entertainment mode.
Boort club members hope Sunday’s meeting, the only event on its calendar after Harness Racing Victoria dropped its hugely successful New Year meeting, will be a springboard for discussions to increase meetings next year.