MY Buzz Lightning made his first start in seven months a winning one on Wednesday night as driver Doug Hewitt let the front runners burn their energy before his runner soared to the lead in the BHRC Awards Night 12 Feb Pace (1,730 metres).
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The Michael Muscat-trained My Buzz Lightning ($3) took the lead at the top of the home straight and survived what would have been the comeback run of the year from The Grogfather ($5, Bernie Hewitt).
John Boserio's The Grogfather broke stride for the third time in his last five starts - and gave up around 50 metres to the leader at one stage - but recovered under the guidance of Bernie Hewitt to mount a late challenge against the leading horse being driven by his son.
My Buzz Lightning and The Grogfather swept around the leaders on the turn three and four wide respectively but the former had much more left in reserve compared to his rival.
Muscat's three-year-old won by 4.8m in a career best mile rate of 1:56:6.
Stephanie Burley's Havana ($61) was third.
Doug Hewitt said he was all smiles when the leading horses went out hard in a 26.5 first quarter as they scrapped for the lead.
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"He's still a couple of runs off from where he needs to be. I gave him an easier run hoping that he'd be able to get home and he did just that," he said.
"That was more pure ability than anything because he's still probably another run off being fully fit.
"I was sitting back, didn't do anything early, and we got a perfect trail into it. It couldn't have worked out much better for us with the speed being so high at the start. We just made the most of it."
Hewitt had a good view of The Grogfather breaking stride ahead of him at the race's start but he had no idea he'd failed to stick close to the field.
"I knew he'd galloped but I didn't realise how far back he'd gone. When I saw him at the turn I knew I had to get going," he said.
"I figured that he must have come straight back in behind us [after breaking stride] but Bern said he was about 40 lengths off us so that's a massive run on his behind.
"Luckily we were close enough and we made the most out of it."
Wins were shared around at Wednesday night's meeting as nine different trainers claimed the spoils.
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Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
