Call Me Hector extended a perfect start to his harness racing career by taking out the second of the MIA Breeders Plate heats on Monday night. After a dominant win at Ballarat on debut, the David Jack-trained colt made it two wins from as many starts at Leeton.
Overcoming some early issues behind the barrier gate, when he got caught a long way off the rest of the field, Call Me Hector ($1.10 fav) went around the field early and the son of Art Major was never headed. He went on to defeat Ray Walker’s Our Mach Jack ($29.90) by 4.8 metres with Man Hands ($12.00) a further half head away in third.
It was another pleasing effort according his trainer-driver. “He went good and I think you can only win your heat,” Jack said. “It was a bit scratchy at the start with a couple of gallopers and things like that. “He didn’t knock himself around, but I was pretty happy with the way he went all the same.” Call Me Hector clocked a mile rate of 2:01.5.
While it was far from the 30-metre victory on debut, the Euroa horseman was unperturbed by the margin this time around. “You don’t want to be winning by 30 metres all the time,” Jack said. “That is just the way racing is some times. “You don’t go out there to see how fast you can go, you go out there to win.”
The barrier draw for Sunday’s $40,000 final will be released on Wednesday.
Jack has qualified two for the final, with Tygerphinn finishing third in the earlier heat. He was also pleased with his efforts after only being beaten six metres in a faster run race. “He went good too,” Jack said. “He’s an honest little fella.”
His nephew Cameron Maggs drove Call Me Hector when the pair met at Ballarat and Jack said no decision had been made about who would drive each horse in the final.
Meanwhile, Rob The Bank set a new track record earlier in the night. After a fast early speed, Rob The Bank stormed around the field to better a track record that has stood for almost five years. Rob The Bank ($3.40) hadn’t been placed in his last five starts, but found conditions that suited. The Shane Hillier-trained gelding eclipsed the 1:56.6 record Dash Of Class from January 2012 when he clocked a mile rate of 1:56.5. He defeated Navajo Rocky ($7.60) by 10.6 metres with the third-placed Lombo Hallmark ($7.80) a further 36.4 metres back.
By Courtney Rees