Bernie Hewitt’s talented three- year-old Read About Lexy claimed one of the biggest prizes on the Bathurst Harness Racing Club’s calendar when she was first past the post in the Gold Bracelet Final last month, but this Saturday night she is chasing an even larger reward.
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The Georges Plains filly has qualified for the $150,505, Group 1 Victorian Oaks Final (2,240 metres).
Given the prestige of the annual race, a quality field of 12 runners will be vying for the honours, but Read About Lexy is certainly in top form for Hewitt.
She has won seven of her 11 races so far this season, her last four starts all resulting in victories.
That winning streak included the Group 3 Gold Tiara Final for three-year-old fillies and an impressive run in her Victorian Oaks heat last Friday.
She showed gate speed to take the lead in her heat and went on to win in a 1:57.2 mile rate which featured a 57.1 seconds run home.
Read About Lexy finished 7.4m clear of nearest rival Makes Every Scents – the same filly she trumped in the Gold Bracelet Final.
“I’ve campaigned down here [Victoria] plenty of times before. This was one of the races that we had planned for her,” Hewitt said.
“She went quite well in her heats. She rolled along to the top and then she finished it off quite well.
“It was a good run, but she does have the ability to run quick sectionals and she can string those quick sectionals together as well.
“It is no real surprise that she made the final; she has done everything that we have asked her to do so far.”
But Read About Lexy may need an even bigger effort if she is to win Saturday night’s final.
When the draw was released yesterday, Hewitt’s filly had barrier 10 next to her name. It is the same draw she copped for the NSW Oaks earlier this year, a race in which she placed sixth.
“It’s a good quality field and the draw has done us no favours. She has drawn barrier 10, so we are going to have to hope that the race is truly run,” Hewitt said.
“When you have a bad draw, that’s what you have to hope for – that the speed is on.
“But she is fairly adaptable and in this sort of company that is quite important for her. Hopefully we can get over the top of them.”
As for who Hewitt sees as his biggest threat, he nominated fellow heat winner Delightful Lana. The Peter Walsh-trained daughter of Bettors Delight has won seven of her 12 starts this season and has drawn barrier three for the final.
“Delightful Lana will be very hard to beat. She has a good draw and when she had a good draw in her heat she went well,” Hewitt said.
“Makes Every Scents always goes well and there are a number of Victorian fillies in there as well which are handy.
“But I’d say that Peter Walsh’s filly [Delightful Lana] looks the hardest to beat.”
The Group 1 Victorian Oaks Final will get underway at 9pm this Saturday at Melton.
