ART Mistress continued her perfect start to the new season for Bernie Hewitt on Wednesday night as she took out heat two of the Soldiers Saddle series at the Bathurst Paceway.
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The now four-year-old mare, trained at Georges Plains by Hewitt, had resumed with an impressive 13.6 metres win on her home track on November 23 and backed that up a week later when clocking a hot 1:55.6 mile rate.
That saw her start her heat of the annual Soldiers Saddle series as the $2 favourite and those who backed her would have been smiling.
From a barrier seven draw, Hewitt opted to drop back in the running line, settling seventh in the field of 10 for the 2,260m contest.
But once Hewitt asked her to give, Art Mistress was certainly up to the task.
She went on to win by 3¼m over Bacchus Raucous (Mitch Turnbull, $9.90), with Ned Pepper ($17.70, Angela Hedges) a further 3m back in third.
The 1:57.8 winning mile rate was the quickest of the three saddle heats.
“It’s been good for her to come back like this and race well. She is not without her little problems, like any horse, but she’s going really well,” Hewitt said.
“Not working her early and having that trail in … that really helped her, I didn‘t have to knock her around.”
While Hewitt opted out of the early speed battle, both Knysna (barrier two) and Harlequin Bromac (barrier five) showed good gate speed as they vied for front spot.
It was Harlequin Bromac, stablemate of heat one winner Regal Nightshade, who got it to leave Knysna in the trail.
Uncle John pushed forward to park outside the leader, while Hedges found a nice one-out and one-back sit for Ned Pepper after going from the widest second row draw.
Harlequin Bromac backed off the speed after finding the lead to clock a 30.8 seconds opening quarter of the last mile, but the mare soon lifted her rating once more.
Down the back straight Uncle John moved up to eyeball Harlequin Bromac, while Hewitt opted to follow Turnbull when he set off on a three wide move with Bacchus Raucous.
As they rounded the bend for home it was Uncle John who had the lead, but he was relieved of it by Bacchus Raucous with some 100m to run.
But there was to be another change as Hewitt got the favourite clear and she motored home to take the spoils.
The victory took Art Mistress’ earnings to $97,990 and she is a good chance of cracking $100,000 in the final.
“It’s always nice to get on to $100,000, she deserves it, so I hope she goes well,” Hewitt said.
Art Mistress will head into the $13,000 decider with a record of eight wins and 14 placings from 33 starts.
