Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Talented reinsman Kyle Harper was full of praise for Hotly Pursued after driving the gelding to a splendid win in the $50,000 Hoist Torque Chandon Classic for four-year-olds at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Hotly Pursued, the $1.50 favourite from the No. 2 barrier, overcame challenges at the start and the finish of the 2130m Group 3 feature event before winning by a half-length from the $4.20 second fancy Rolling Fire. He rated 1.56.6 after sprinting over the final 800m in 55.4sec.
“There was a little heart flutter when I started working forward and the one inside of me (the $151 outsider Dawson Shard) was going forward, too,” said Harper.
“I looked across and Garry (Johnson) had a handful of horse and was still coming up underneath me. I came out for the first 50m and thought I would get to the lead comfortably, so I shut him down. And then, to the horse’s credit, he responded when I had to wake him back up, to get to the front.
“It was not ideal to sprint for the first 100m of the race, and then relax before being asked to sprint again. We had gone about 300m before getting to the front.
“Hotly Pursued’s racing manners have improved so well. After taking the lead he went to sleep (with opening quarters of 31.6sec. and 29.8sec.), and when it was time to go, he picked up the bit and did the job.”
Asked if he was concerned when Rolling Fire issued a strong challenge approaching the home turn, Harper said: “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried with one of Justin Prentice’s horses sitting that close to me. You never dismiss a Prentice horse at any point.
“However, my confidence levels were high, and Hotly Pursued won quite comfortably. The plugs were in, and he had reserves and never felt like getting beaten. He felt better than he has ever felt.”
Harper said that all credit was due to Murray Lindau, who bred, trains and owns Hotly Pursued (in partnership with Claire McNaughton). “Murray has done a tremendous job with him,” he said.
Hotly Pursued is by American sire Huntsville and is the third foal out of the New South Wales-bred mare Besos Baci, a winner of eight races. Hotly Pursued has now raced 32 times for eleven wins, eleven placings and stakes of $163,999.