College Chapel made his hometown debut at Bathurst last Wednesday.
THE wait was long and patience was needed but the four two-year-old races which concluded the 10-event program at Gold Crown Paceway on Wednesday were worth the wait and whetted the appetite for next week’s carnival.
While three of the winners had previous race experience, a fourth winner and a number of the debutants showed that they will acquit themselves well in their respective heats next Friday and Saturday.
Dennis Picker ( who completed a double at the meeting with Showem Simon in a C0 class sprint) produced the Bathurst sale purchase Ally Rogan in outstanding condition for the first of two 2YO fillies sprints, the Pet Rock daughter showing class to win easily, despite sitting outside the lead for much of the race.
She’s now unbeaten in two runs at the track, with a tough placing at Menangle sandwiched between those runs, and will have plenty of admirers in Friday’s Tiara heat.
Im All Starzzz (Casey/ Aaron Williams) and Frankies Tooth ( Graham Bullock/Mitch Turnbull) did everything right to complete the placings, and Taylors Mill (Bernie Hewitt) went into everyone’s black book after missing away, making up a conservative 80 metres and having the cheek to box on strongly in the middle of the chasing pack. It was some run.
Six debutants scored up in the second fillies sprint, and they filled the placings.
Sweet Heart Bella (David/ Brad Hewitt) led throughout, with a brilliant last half in 56.5s, to account for Write About Lexy ( Bernie Hewitt) and Sports Story (Bernie/Doug Hewitt), to make it a family trifecta.
The daughter of Mr Feelgood hadn’t trialled, or even been away from the Hewitt stables, before this road trip. She’s apparently highly strung - she was given 7 days R and R, and then 9 days work to fit her for this successful debut - but she also possesses very high speed, and is one to watch in the series.
A homebred, she’s from the unraced Justanotherpoorboy daughter Cinderella Girl. Could she be the Cinderella story of this year’s Tiara?
The final two races, for the 2YO colts and geldings, were first-out and first-home affairs for the short-priced favourites.
Shoobee Doo(Steve/Amanda Turnbull) , a $16,500 buy at last year’s Bathurst sale from the impressive first crop of Shoobees Place, had rattled home for a fine second on debut two weeks earlier, and again showed high speed to open up a gap on his opposition, with a 27.6s closing quarter for a 1:58.8 mile rate.
Chris Be Quick ( Gemma/ Mat Rue ) maintained his consistent record, placing at each of his four starts now, and My Ultimate Major (Jarrod Alchin) made it consecutive thirds after chasing hard throughout.
Both placegetters are honest, foolproof types, but the winner looks to be a cut above them, and capable of making it through to a Crown final.
And so to the last, where Bernie Hewitt’s boom colt College Chapel, the astounding 1:52.6 Sapling Stakes winner on Miracle Mile night, was making his hometown debut.
Steve Turnbull’s Firestorm Red led briefly, before Hewitt took over on the money-back favourite, quickening to a 28.9s quarter down the back and looking likely to burst away on straightening, before Turnbull closed the gap and chased him hard right to the line, in a brilliant 27.1s final quarter, for a 1:56.9 mile rate.
Hit The Track (Josh/Mitch Turnbull) held down third spot, but was no match for the first pair.
Bernie Hewitt, who possibly got a minor scare when Firestorm Red came at him in the straight, was still pleased that his Mach Three colt got the solid workout he needed after missing out on a race at Menangle a week earlier.
He plans to keep his charge up to the mark by starting him in the Bathurst trials on Monday, in preparation for Saturday’s heat, where he is sure to again start a warm favourite.
Firestorm Red has impressed at both his starts and if he continues to improve, even a little, then he will come right into contention in the series.
Other winners, on a night dominated by the babies, were: Castalong Shadow, last year’s Crown champ, in 3YO grade; Imthevillagestar, earning Drive of the Night for Justin Reynolds; Always Rockin, a deserved winner after recent seconds; Good Boy Oliver, now to aim up at the Honouree Stakes over the carnival; Crackerjack Jo, holding off Beetson for a stable quinella in the fast-class, and Showem Simon.
Track curator Tony Hagney has the Gold Crown Paceway surface in lightning fast condition, with three sub1:55 wins during the night. The 2YO record of 1:54.7 could well go by the board at this year’s carnival.
