DAVID Hewitt's decision to play follow the leader at the Bathurst Gold Crown Paceway on Friday night worked as treat as it led him to a Group 1 final.
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With a barrier 10 draw and some handy rivals in the second of the 1,730 metre Gold Tiara heats, Hewitt knew he'd need luck to book a spot in the two-year-old fillies feature final with Happy Cruising.
His tactics were to sit back and let others set the pace, then launch down the home straight.
It worked as Happy Cruising ($2.90) came from three back on the fence at the 400m mark to win by 6.5m.
Hewitt guided his filly four-wide through the final bend, she hit the front with around 100m left then charged away from her rivals.
Happy Cruising clocked a 1:59.0 mile rate to post her second victory from as many starts, with Sheza Mamacita ($9, Daniel Jack) second and Joes Joy ($1.55 favourite, Mat Rue) third.
"The option we thought about was that we just follow them and hope we got a run to the finish. Yeah, it worked well," he said.
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As for whether or not his Mr Feelgood x Lowanna Hanover filly can win the $100,000 Group 1 Gold Tiara Final this Friday Hewitt isn't sure, but he knows he's given her a shot.
"Look I don't know how to rate her chances. She's an honest little filly who just gives her all. I don't how the others stack up, but anyway we are in the final and have a chance," he said.
