Evergreen local trotter Jungle Eyes (Peak Dnk) returned to winning form with a faultless performance to win the Benstud Standardbreds Crookwell Goulburn Trotters Cup on Sunday afternoon.
The seven-year-old gelding, who was a familiar sight in the trotting races at Menangle, was on his best behavior as he stepped to the front for driver James Locke and set a steady pace in the lead from then on.
Sole interstate performer Our Marvella was strongly supported in favoritism and driver Brad Hewitt was able to sit behind the leader while Valley Star was back on track with the three of them. Former top juvenile Maximus Meridius was caught outside the leader.
Both Valley Star and Our Marvella tried to rally on the home straight, but Jungle Eyes rode well enough to keep them both at bay and record a record of 2.03.4 over the 2240 metres.
Jungle Eyes is raced by his breeders Steven and Suzan Lee, based in Crookwell, and is a family affair as he was ridden by their grandson James Locke.
The Super Maiden saw the first appearance of Emperor (Captaintreacherous), who couldn’t have been more impressive in winning on his debut. Emperor is raced by his breeder Mick Harvey, owner of Harnesslink, and is trained by Luke McCarthy and ridden by Jack Callaghan.
The three-year-old colt started on the outside of the front row and after building into the lead, he toyed with his rivals. A third quarter of 27.8 seconds and not extended when he reached the finish line suggests that Emperor will be prominent in the next three year old features.
The Goulburn Soldiers Club Tom and Angela Hewitt Memorial could not have been better written with a Hewitt finish as a result.
ACCURATE REPETITION OF FEBRUARY 1
Brad Hewitt piloted the favorite Precise (Captain Crunch) as she worked her way through the field from her second row. The Sam Hewitt-trained and Will Rixon-driven Refusal trailed behind early leader Angus Finn, while Siren Sea, piloted by David Hewitt, was one out and two back.
Brad Hewitt took advantage of the slow pace and took off on Precise and was content to race outside the leader. The field got stuck on the back straight and Precise worked into the lead, but both Siren Sea and Miki Be Good issued strong challenges out wide. Refusal who could work around the tiring Angus Finn went for the inside run. In a driving finish, Refusal seemed to get up, but Precise showed a lot of courage by winning by half a lead from Refusal, a head further in third just ahead of Miki Be Good.
Precise rating 1.59.5 for the 2240 meter trek.
Precise is played by prominent owner Mick Boots. A lightly raced four-year-old who has already won them at Menangle and shows a lot of promise.
Number two Refusal also performed excellently and this also lightly raced four-year-old mare has better prospects for the future.
By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink
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