LESS than five metres separated the first six horses across the line in Wednesday night’s Tab.com.au Championship Heat 1 (2,260 metres) and at the head of the pack wasn’t a horse punters were expecting to be there.
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Mark Hewitt and Mickilla Express ($23.40) charged home to take the spoils in a finish as thrilling as they come.
With a line of six horses hitting the line together it left track announcer Craig Easey unsure where to look, as well as the spectators watching on excitedly.
Mickilla Express eventually emerged the winner with Blackbird Power ($6.50) and Lethal Promise ($2.60) the placegetters.
Crusty, Little Bit Dusty and Folk Art were incredibly unlucky not to find a top three result.
“I didn’t give him much hope in the race,” Grenfell trainer Hewitt said of Mickilla Express.
“He was travelling reasonable but I was surprised that the rest of the field were struggling. It wasn’t until well into the straight that I thought ‘Wow, he’s a real chance of winning this’.”
The win marks two victories in a row for the five-year-old gelding.
The winning mile rate was 2:00.7.
“He was out for 17 to 18 months with an injury. He’s come back now and had two starts and won them both. He’s always been a great little trier,” Hewitt said.
The race was meant to be the opening heat of the Canola Cup, which has since been cancelled due to the wet weather. However, Harness Racing NSW have stepped in to put a new series in place.
