WHEN Irish Grit first raced at the Bathurst Paceway as a three-year-old, he hardly put a foot right as he was out of position at the start, galloped and finished more than 215 metres off the pace.
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How things have changed.
Now, 13 months on, Irish Grit has notched up back-to-back wins at the Bathurst Paceway for trainer David Aiken.
The first of those wins came in a career-best winning mile rate - a 1:56.6 - as the Courage Under Fire x My Irish Rose gelding got home well after travelling one out and one back.
The second success came on Wednesday evening in the Bedwells Feed Barn Pace (1,730 metres) and again saw Irish Grit find the line well. He got home in a 27.4 seconds split.
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While copping a barrier 12 draw, Irish Grit ($5.50) made a nice start for driver Jason Grimson and settled in a good spot one out and one back.
It was $1.70 favourite Captain Cosmonaut who led the way as the bell sounded and as they turned for home, he still held the lead.
But Irish Grit, who Grimson had guided three wide just prior to the 400m mark, was closing in on his outside.
He finally took the lead with some 40m to go, and held off Mark Hewitt's Bobby Street ($9.50) who challenged after pulling into the sprint lane.
The margin between the pair was 2.4m, with favourite a head back in third.
That was the first leg of a winning double for Aiken and Grimson. Heavenly Shades ($2.50), a six-year-old Shadow Play x Shalom mare, took out the Shannon Springs Pace (1,730m).
