Locally-owned pacer Read About Lexy showed why she is one of the most exciting three-year-old fillies with victory in the Group 3 J L Raith Memorial (1,609 metres) at Menangle on Saturday.
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Owned and bred by Lex Crosby and trained by Bathurst’s Bernie Hewitt, Read About Lexy ($4.20) claimed the $24,000 first prize two metres ahead of Ashlee Siejka’s Ameretto ($4.60), with Makes Every Scents ($6.60) a further 1.3m behind in third.
There seems to be no stopping Hewitt’s Sportswriter out of Lexys Laughing filly who claimed her third straight win and seventh of her career with a career best mile rate of 1:53.5.
It was the first start for Read About Lexy at Menangle since taking out the Group 2 Breeders
Challenge 2yo Fillies Pace last July and she didn’t disappoint.
A superb run home from Hewitt’s filly over the final 200m got her the victory in a race that Ameretto looked to have wrapped up.
As frustrating as a fifth consecutive runner-up finish will be for Siejka’s runner, it continues a strong run of results across a high grade of juvenile racing.
But it was Read About Lexy’s night.
“In her two-year-old season she was always known for her big finishing efforts. This was the first sort of chance this season where she could show that,” he said.
“I have to give full credit to Ameretto for that run first up. Ameretto has that brilliant gate speed, so draws are going to play a big part in her career, having good ability to find the pegs.
“Our filly is no slouch either, getting off the line well, but having that finishing burst. There’s no reason both can’t be contesting the Group 1s this season.”
Ameretto hit the lead on the home straight as earlier leader Whitershadeofpale tired and Hewitt still had plenty of work to do, four wide on Read About Lexy.
Makes Every Scents threatened on the outside before Read About Lexy found another level to run them both down.
“There was enough speed at the start that I was able to take the drop behind the leader,” Hewitt said.
“I would have burned too much to challenge for that. Whitershadeofpale coming forward put me three back, but that showed that you can’t work too hard early,” Hewitt said.
“At the 600m there was a horse struggling on my outside, so I was able to get off the pegs. You need that slice of luck sometimes. When the opening came up she was ready to strike.”
Eugowra Harness Racing Club recently presented its president Lex Crosbie with a special award after Read About Lexy last year set a new record for the fastest time in Australia by a two-year-old.
- Western Advocate and Forbes Advocate
