Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Miss Hepburn, a gutsy winner of the 1730m Cowden Classic Service Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, will be back in action at Bunbury’s Donaldson Park on Wednesday, providing she takes no harm from her victory.
“She will run in the De Campo Memorial for two-year-old fillies (an $11,000 event over 1609m), and then will have a break before coming back to get ready for the Diamond Classic (a $100,00 feature at Gloucester Park on August 18),” said Capel trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo.
The De Campo Memorial, an annual event to celebrate the wonderful career in harness racing of de Campo’s late grandfather Ray, looks set to develop into a keen tussle between Miss Hepburn, Princess Katie and In A Wink, the two fillies who filled the placings behind Miss Hepburn on Friday night.
Miss Hepburn, having her second start in a race, following her excellent second to Bazaar Package on debut at Gloucester Park a fortnight earlier, was the $4.30 favourite on Friday night when she began well from the No. 3 barrier and held out the fast-starting $5.50 chance Princess Katie to set the pace.
Gary Hall Jnr then quickly was able to angle Princess Katie across to the pegs to follow the pacemaker, with Bazaar Package dashing forward, three wide, from the outside barrier to race in the breeze. In A Wink ($4.60) settled in the one-out, two-back position.
Princess Katie was blocked for a run until Hall was able to ease her into the clear 210m from home — and she quickly loomed as a serious danger. But Miss Hepburn fought on grimly and won by a head from Princess Katie, with $4.60 chance In A Wink finishing stoutly to be third. The winner rated 1.57.6.
“Miss Hepburn felt the winner on the corner, but she star gazed a bit,” said De Campo. “But she is a tough filly who got the job done. She is still learning what it is all about.”
Miss Hepburn was bred by Kim Tuckey and is raced by his wife Alison. She is by Ultimate Machete and is the sixth foal out of the Grinfromeartoear mare Montanas Smile, who managed three placings and earned $3368 from 16 starts.
Miss Hepburn’s half-brother Bolta was retired recently after earning $97,606 from 11 wins and 30 placings from 107 starts. Miss Hepburn is also closely related to several successful pacers, including Remit, Whitbys Merit, Whitby Timer, Whitby Heritage, Montana Anna, Zerina Whitby, La Roya Whitby and Aikido Whitby.