Exciting Queenslander Hirstglen stamped his Launching Pad credentials with an impressive victory in his Sandown Park debut last night.
Having his first start since finding trouble in the final of the group 2 Queensland Derby in December, Hirstglen began only moderately but held the rail behind early leader Why Not Colby. Railing strongly down the back, Hirstglen assumed the lead passing the second split before powering to an ever expanding 9¾ victory in a slick 29.41 – to the delight of those who took the $1.04 on offer.
While his overall time was impressive, it was his elite 10.41 run home time that turned heads.
“It was very impressive,” said handler Vicki Wisener.
“His first section is quite ordinary but his middle and last sections are his best. There was pressure on him, and he used his head and his chase. The connections back in Queensland will be very happy.”
Still seven weeks shy of his seocnd birthday, Hirstglen arrived from the sunshine state with some impressive credentials having recorded brilliant victories in 29.84 at Albion Park and in 30.34 at Ipswich prior to his Queensland Derby appearance. Trained by Wisener’s good friend Gerard Bowe and owned by his son Justin, arrived in Victoria several weeks ago with one series in mind – the $420,000 Launching Pad.
“I’ve known Gerard for quite a few years, he’s one of my best friends and I’m really happy they trust me with the dog.
“He’d had one look at the track and we were happy with his trial. Tonight was good, coming up with box 1 and he’s handled it well.
“He’s a very fast dog. He just needs racing now leading into the Launching Pad. Probably another couple of races – that’s his fourth win now so he can win another couple – and we still have a couple of weeks before the heats.”
The heats of the Launching Pad – the country’s only sweepstakes series – will be run on Thursday 26 March with the final to be run on the club’s famous Easter Kids Fun Night on Thursday 9 April.
Click here for more information about the Launching Pad.
Click here for full results from last night.
