JASON Hewitt joked that he was trying to 'scare along' Sammi Dance as he yelled all the way down the home straight at the Bathurst Paceway, but he was simply aiming to keep the filly focused.
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And focused she was.
While in the past Sammi Dance has not found the line well, on Wednesday night she did as she took out the Hynash Constructions Three Year Old Pace (2,260 metres).
"It's just keeping her mind on the job, she can hit herself and go rough, so the more you keep her mind on the job, the better she seems to go," Hewitt said.
The A Rocknroll Dance x Normas Magic filly trained at Georges Plains by Bernie Hewitt went into the race in handy form, having placed no worse than third in each of her five starts.
But it was Michael Munro's Kalypso King ($2.25) who held favouritism as he lined up for his first start since March 11. Last start Dubbo winner Karloo Bradley was also well supported as the $2.80 second elect.
After the green light was given He Said She Said began well from barrier five and approaching the first corner, was able to cross for the lead.
Kalypso King was left without cover as he headed up the outside line of runners. Tucked in behind the favourite was Karloo Bradley then Sammi Dance ($7).
As He Said She Said backed the tempo right off through a 33 seconds opening quarter of the last mile, Sammi Dance was pulling.
"The leaders got it easy early, but she was actually over racing and I thought that they'd better get running soon or she'd have no ghost left," Hewitt revealed.
But fortunately for Hewitt, after the bell sounded the tempo picked up.
Kalypso King closed to within three-quarters of a length of He Said She Said as they headed down the back and when Karloo Bradley peeled three-wide at the 400m mark, Hewitt followed with Sammi Dance.
Around the bend Kalypso King faded, but Sammi Dance - now four wide - was full of running. With Hewitt's yells spurring her on, she hit the front in the shadows of the post.
Sammi Dance won by a neck over He Said She Said ($7.50), with Karloo Bradley three-quarters of a length back in third. It was her second career win.
"I was trailing May Rue into it, so I was one out and two back in the run. I followed him around the turn then pulled out straightening for home," Hewitt said.
"I was lucky. Kalypso King got a bit tired first up and I trailed probably the best one into it apart from the leader. It worked out well.
"She finished off a lot better tonight, she's been doing things wrong, so it was nice for a change tonight that everything went right and we put it all together for Mum and Dad."
