HE'S KASHED Up, but can he cash in when it comes to this year's edition of the Bathurst Gold Crown?
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After an impressive win at the Bathurst Paceway on Wednesday evening in a two-year-old pace, the Gemma Hewitt trained Kashed Up will now be aimed at the annual feature.
Kashed Up will undoubtedly face stiff opposition in the two-year-old colts and geldings Gold Crown series which features a $100,000 Group 1 final, but he looks a good prospect for Hewitt.
While facing the breeze for the entire 1,730 metres journey in Wednesday's HRNSW Guaranteed 2YO Pace, Kashed Up still produced a strong run down the home straight to take the win.
Hewitt bred the For A Reason x Laughing Lilly gelding herself. He is a brother to Kash Us Back, who has won 10 of his 30 starts to date with seven minor placings too.
Wednesday's race was Kashed Up's second career run, starting as the $4.60 second elect after a third on debut a week earlier.
Driver Bernie Hewitt admitted that while Kashed Up ran some nice sectionals after finding the lead in his first start, the effort told.
So after going from barrier five on Wednesday, Hewitt stayed out of the early speed battle. It was a choice that paid off.
When then leader, the $2 favourite Eagle Commander, eased off through a 32.7 seconds second sectional, it allowed Hewitt to move up into the death seat without Kashed Up expending much energy.
As they hit the final bend, there was two metres between the pair.
The pace increased, but Kashed Up kept coming down the home straight to beat home Nathan Hurst's Eagle Commander by 3.6m in a 1:58.5 mile rate. Hes Sweet ($21) was just over a metre further back in third.
"Tonight I just let him off nice and steady, even though he was travelling without cover there, he just travelled comfortably tonight," Bernie Hewitt said.
"He's a lovely horse, he's lovely with a sit and can do a bit of work as well."
While Bernie Hewitt has enjoyed success in the major races at the Bathurst Gold Crown Carnival in the past - he won the 2018 Gold Crown with College Chapel and 2015 Gold Bracelet aboard Read About Lexy - Gemma Hewitt is still seeking a maiden trophy.
Last year her best result came when Joes Joy won the Gold Tiara Gold Consolation.
Trainer-drivers Amanda Turnbull and Dennis Picker also had reason to smile on Wednesday as both drove race-to-race doubles.
Turnbull won with Lifeofbrian ($5.50) and Magnifico To Watch ($2.50) while Picker had success with Smooth Sailor ($6.50) and Gone Way Back ($8).
