SHE might have issues, but as of Friday night Cowgirls N Angels has her first win on Australian soil for her new trainer Gemma Hewitt.
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Purchased from New Zealand with a record of two wins and six minors from 18 starts, Cowgirls N Angels certainly had potential.
But as George Plains trainer Hewitt discovered, she also had trouble with her feet.
Plenty of work has gone into fixing that problem from both the trainer and her brother Jason Hewitt - Cowgirls N Angels' driver and a farrier.
While Hewitt admits it is still a work in progress, the effort which has been put into the four-year-old mare is paying off.
She placed second on debut and on Friday night at the Bathurst Paceway, notched up an impressive win in the Bedwells Feedbarn Pace (1,730 metres).
"She's still got a few issues to iron out, I think she'll be quite talented when we get her sorted. Still she's just not quite happy in her gear," Hewitt said.
"If she can get things her own way and do it how she wants to do it, then she's good. Jase has done a lot of work with her on her feet, so a big thanks to him too."
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Installed as the $1.80 favourite, Cowgirls N Angels showed she has gate speed as she flew out from barrier four and was able to cross for the lead into the first turn.
Our Emancipation then rolled up on her outside, settling 3m off the pace, while Im All Courage sat on the leader's back.
But Cowgirls N Angels was untroubled in front and Jason Hewitt was able to pinch a cheap 31.6 seconds split for the second quarter of the last mile.
That set up the American Ideal x Cowgirls N Indians mare perfectly.
Though Matamua peeled out at the 500 and began a charge towards the led, Cowgirls N Angels kicked through the final bend.
It saw her with an 8m advantage at the top of the home straight and from there she went on with it.
Cowgirls N Angels got home in a 28.4 split to win by 6.5m over Matamua ($14), with another 5.2m back to Lucky Nutter ($5.50) in third.
"We didn't think we could lead from four, we thought the inside ones would hold and we'd be in the running line," Gemma Hewitt said.
"But they didn't get out that quick and we were able to cross them and dictate the rest.
"She got it nice and cheap, once she got to the front she could back it off.
"She's got some good quarters in her, but it's just a matter of keeping it together and making sure her manners stay right, because she can jump it off. But touch wood, she hasn't done it at the races yet."
That was not the only success for the Hewitts, as father-son Bernie and Doug combined to win the last race of the meeting with Crazy Shippo ($1.35 favourite).