Im No Trouble leads all the way in Leeton Breeders Plate

A top class field was on hand for this year’s $30,600 Southern Central Engineering Breeders Plate, the last of our two-year-old classics of the season, and it was Im No Trouble (Art Major) who was able to take the lead and take his fourth win.

In an open betting race, Neptunite, who had previously won three straight, was sent off as favourites, just ahead of Im In Trouble and Victorian visitors Atua Magic. Crucially, Im No Trouble was pulled in half with Neptunite on the outside of him and Atua Magic on the outside of the second row.

And it was Blake Jones on Im No Trouble who held the early lead, leaving Neptunite racing outside the leader with King’s Fury behind the leader and Atua Magic trailing behind. There was little Bruce Harpley could do on Neptunite and Jones judged Im No Trouble to perfection. However, Neptunite was undeniable and he was closing in on the final turn. Atua Magic had gone on a three-wide run before invading Neptunite and issuing a late challenge.

IM NO PROBLEMS DEC 26 REPETITION

But Im No Trouble found plenty under pressure and managed to beat Neptunite by just two meters with Atua Magic in third.

Raced and trained by Canberra identity Michael Hawke, Im No Trouble is out of the former smart mare Perfect Trouble, a winner of 13 races with a best time of 1.58.9. Perfect Trouble has been a gem in breeding, producing Im In Trouble (full brother to Im No Trouble), a winner of over $164,000 and a score of 1.52.6. She also produced the winners Trouble in Heaven and Bound for Trouble for Hawke.

Hawke has indicated that the Bathurst Gold Crown Series for three-year-olds will be his target next year.

Neptunite showed great determination to hold on to second place after doing most of the work and will hopefully come back stronger as a three-year-old. Atua Magic, who was placed in the Protostar at Albion Park earlier this year, also has the qualities of a promising three-year-old.

The Leeton Breeders Plate (now sponsored by Southern Central Engineering) is one of the oldest two-year-old classics in the country. It was first run in 1955 when it was won by Joe Raid at 2.15 for the eight-furlong journey. Originally the race was run in heats on Boxing Day with the final on New Year’s Eve, but with the horse’s birthday changing to New Year’s Day the race is now run as a one-off event on Boxing Day.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink