Mat Rue almost brought off a driving treble in the final race at Bathurst last Friday, going down by just a half-head, but it was hard to detect any disappointment in his voice as he came back to scale with the undoubted “ call “ of the night.
“Lexy’s had a big few minutes!” he announced. This was in reference to a wonderful double for Eugowra owner Lex Crosby, with Lexys On Fire scoring its maiden win in the Bathurst race, just minutes after its younger half-sister Read About Lexy had led all the way to take out a heat of the Victorian Oaks at Melton.
Lexys On Fire, the Gold Bracelet winner during the recent Bathurst carnival, is a well-known and much-admired filly, trained by Rue’s boss Bernie Hewitt. With the Oaks heat at Melton set to go only ten minutes ahead of the Bathurst race, Rue just, somehow, managed to be late onto the track with Zirconia, and already knew the Melton result.
Rue’s drive was impeccable, but it wasn’t good enough to overcome Lexys On Fire ($14.40, Ken Sharp/David Harris), which came from midfield in the running line to get the bob in on the line. The Courage Under Fire daughter had been most consistent, without winning, in nine starts this season, and her timing in securing this first win, within minutes of her little sister’s biggest success to date, was perfect.
For Eugowra trainer Ken Sharp, it was a maiden win on the new Bathurst track, while David Harris, who’s a relative stranger there, was unsure of the result until he checked with the more experienced Rue.
Lex Crosby would have been delighted by the spontaneous applause which erupted in the Bathurst clubhouse when Read About Lexy got up at Melton. No doubt he staged an early exit from the post-race celebrations there, to get to a television monitor for that “other” race back at home. All of which might be summarized as one late, one early, two Lexys, and timing that worked out just right.
Earlier in the night, the feature Western Districts Derby saw a dominant display by Dubbo gelding Mister Jogalong ($2.30 favourite, Mick/Kurt Lew), which dictated terms throughout, sprinting the last half in 55.4 seconds to run out a very easy winner, from Jethros An Eagle and Lexus On The Beach.
It was his first run in six weeks, but a smart trial win at Dubbo had him well prepped for the race. The winner now of six from ten, he will likely aim up at the Breeders Challenge, but is also eligible for the Victorian Sires series, run at about the same time.
Other winners on a night of competitive racing which produced some very close finishes:
Likeallofus ($4.70, Wendy/Emma Turnbull), too tough in a 2260 metres C1 class, after the slow early speed prompted Emma to change tactics and work to the death seat, where it confirmed the stable’s good opinion with its gritty effort;
Allnight Kiss ($4.30 favourite, Bernie Hewitt/Mat Rue), came three-wide from the bell in a 2260 metres 3C0-3C1, to give Mat Rue the first leg of a winning double (with a further three seconds);
Makin Memories ($85.50, Pat McCarthy), responded well to several changes by his trainer-driver, and on his best behavior throughout the second division of the C1 class, to defy his starting quote;
A Mighty Storm ($6.20, Wayne Watterson), highly impressive in a C2-C4 sprint, sprinting sharply when extricated from the markers and stopping the clock in 1:55.1, for his highly delighted breeder-owner-trainer-driver;
Our Castanea ($10.70, Ken/Mat Rue), ground out a tough win in the C0 sprint, after coming three-wide without cover, and prompting a warm tribute from the driver for his modest and unassuming dad;
Tailamade Billy ($6.40, Steve Turnbull), its first win at start five, in a 2C O sprint, after some good efforts during the recent carnival, and possibly to continue on to the Breeders Challenge series.
The Bathurst HRC made a presentation between races to Steve Turnbull, in recognition of his having his twenty-thousandth starter at a recent meeting. A staggering milestone, for a champion trainer-driver who’s an ornament to the sport.
by Terry Neil