Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
The sky is the limit for Holy Hecka, the brilliant winner of the 2536m All New Foton Diesel Trucks Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night a star three-year-old who almost did not leave New Zealand early this year when he suffered bone chips in his nearside front fetlock.
A sale to leviathan West Australian owners Jim and Wilma Giumelli was stalled last February after the young pacer cross-fired in a workout for astute Henley Brook trainer Mike Reed on a 750m training track in Christchurch two days after he had created a huge impression by charging home from seventh at the 400m to score an effortless victory over 1980m at Addington at his fourth start in a race.
“He worked really good but when he pulled up, he got on himself and cut his pastern quite badly,” explained Reed, who was in New Zealand to attend the yearling sales.
Reed was in the midst of negotiations to buy Holy Hecka for the Giumellis, and a price had been established. However, after a veterinary check revealed that there was a bone chip in the near front fetlock the expected sale fell through.
“After returning home I discussed the X-rays with my vet, and we made a deal with Holy Hecka’s owner, and decided to pay the $2000 for the operation to remove the chip,” said Reed.
“The operation was a success; Holy Hecka had a good cartridge in the joint, which showed that he shouldn’t get any more chips. So, we were able to buy the horse for a heavily reduced price, and he has ended up being a very cheap horse.”
The sale was completed in July, and, eventually, Holy Hecka arrived in Western Australia in August. “We were hoping to run him in the WA Derby (in November), but it proved too much of a rush,” said Reed.
However, plans are already in motion for Holy Hecka to contest the rich events for four-year-olds late next year, including the Golden Nugget.
“I’ll give him a couple more starts before giving him a little break,” said Reed. “And then there are some good races for him in February and March (including the two Group 3 $50,000 events for four-year-olds, the Chandon Classic on February 23 and the Preux Chevalier Classic on March 22).
“Holy Hecka reminds me of Manageable (a star for trainer-reinsman Reed in the 1980s) who raced 52 times for 27 wins, 11 seconds, two thirds and $316,811 in prizemoney). It is just the way he goes, and he has the similar high speed.”
Holy Hecka revealed some of that great pace when he sprinted through the second quarter of the final mile on Friday night in 27.5sec. and followed that with 400m sections of 28.5sec. and 29.7sec. on his way to winning by two lengths from Insta Gator. That took his record to seven starts for three wins, two thirds and two fourths for earnings of $28,196.
That is just the tip of the iceberg for an exciting pacer who is destined to develop into a champion.
He is by American sire Sweet Lou and is the first foal out of the unraced Bettors Delight mare Showbiz, whose full sisters Our Chelsea Girl (44 starts for eight wins, 18 placings and $45,261) and Elios (28 starts for ten wins, eight placings and $220,176) were smart performers, with Elios winning two Group 2 events and the Group 1 2700m Messenger Free-For-All at Alexandra Park in May 2014.
Holy Hecka was the $1.40 favourite from barrier two on Friday night and he was untroubled to lead all the way, even though a challenge from $101 chance Elwaddell at the 1200m forced Shannon Suvaljko to lift the tempo with a 27.5sec. quarter.
“He ran the middle half in 56sec. and still got home in 29.7sec. and won easily,” said an admiring Suvaljko. “You can just feel that he is a very good horse. He has great point to point speed.
“He pulled up with a high heart rate and he is not screwed down yet. He is still learning how to race.”