Whatsin runs second in Highway Handicap to enter spell on a positive note

In just her fourth start for Bathurst trainer Dean Mirfin the Epaulette mare Whatsin ($12, Hugh Bowman) came close to charging down Commando Hunt ($7, Kathy O'Hara) on the back of a big turn of foot inside the last 100 metres of the race.

The mare still picked up a handy $18,400 for connections on the back of her effort, and has claimed a win and two runner-up results since joining the Bathurst stable at the start of June.

Mirfin will now send the mare for a brief spell before aiming her at even bigger prizes.

"She's thrived since she's come here from Newcastle. We've got a very high opinion of her. She's going for a spell now to prepare her for our Country Championships heat," he said.

"Her benchmark is quite high so the only real option for her at the moment is to set her for something like that.

"She was born and bred in Bathurst, at O'Connell, and I train for those who bred her. She came here for both a change of scenery, as she wasn't firing when she left Newcastle, and to also bring her back closer to home with the Country Championships in mind.

"She'll be spelling for six weeks. The preparation would have been too long otherwise. Now is as good a time as any. She'll get some spring grass, the weather is warming up and the days are nice."

With 400m to go Bowman was sitting mid-pack and needed an opportunity to present itself so he could escape off the rail.

Commando Hunt, who was racing directly in front of Whatsin, ducked wide into space to begin a charge to the line and Bowman latched onto his back.

Cameron Crockett's Commando Hunt hit the front with just under 200m and quickly left everyone in his wake except for Mirifin's challenger.

No-one hit the line better than the Bathurst-trained horse but Whatsin ran out of race track to use, coming up half a length short of charging down the leader.

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