Mister Bluechip and Jimmy Locke following their TAB Regional Championships heat win. Photo by Club Menangle
AFTER just nine career starts it would be an incredible feat if lightly raced six-year-old Mister Bluechip was able to win Saturday night’s $100,000 TAB Reginal Championships Metropolitan Final.
In almost identical circumstances to last year’s winner, Extreme Sea, who was also lightly-raced going into the Championships, Mister Bluechip had shown so much ability winning at his first two race starts, but since then has had some minor setbacks hindering his progression.
Now trainer Daniel Rowell believes that he has the gelding back on the right track after his stylish win in last Tuesday’s qualifying heat.
Driven like he was the best horse in the race, freelance Canberra reinsman Jimmy Locke charged Mister Bluechip forward from his gate seven draw, eventually finding the front and dictating terms to suit himself.
Locke got busy on the horse at the top of the lane, and while it took plenty of encouragement from him for his charge to find top gear, they were never under any serious threat of being beaten.
In the end, Mister Bluechip scored by a comfortable three metre margin, posting a respectable 1:55.9 mile rating for the 2300 metre journey.
“He has always been a horse with plenty of ability and upside, and it was nice to see him come back from a long break and produce what we knew he was capable of,” said Locke.
“I know Dan has always had a lot of time for him and has been patient the whole way through.
“You only have to analyse his racing career to know that and if the horse can stay sound, he is likely to have a promising future.
“Realistically, I think the 2300m trip favours him, but heading into the heat last Tuesday we were of the mindset that we would do what was necessary to qualify, and he felt super strong.
“Going into the final I feel he is definitely a major player given that he relishes the Menangle track and the fact that he is very versatile, whether in front or following a helmet should take him a long way to figuring in the finish.
“I am just grateful to Daniel and the horse’s owner that they have given me the opportunity to drive him.”
The Brad Hewitt-trained Horn Player was the fastest qualifier in Heat One and shapes as the one to beat.
