Gap in betting markets but not at the finish

ALTHOUGH there was a gap between them in betting markets, the judge couldn’t separate Iamajoyride and Beta Jewel at the end of their New South Wales Breeders’ Challenge heat in Dubbo today.

Prepared by Bernie Hewitt, the fillies dead-heated in the qualifier as they rated 1:58.3 over 1720 metres.

Driven by Hewitt, Iamajoyride was the $1.40 favourite while Beta Jewel was among the outsiders at $21.

The latter was partnered by Doug Hewitt.

“I had four in the field and on work these two shaped as my best chances,” Hewitt said. “Little separated them on the training track and that’s the way they finished.

“Beta Jewel’s record doesn’t look as good on paper, but she had really been stepping up at home.”

Beginning quickly from barrier four, Iamajoyride set the pace as Beta Jewel was caught three-wide from gate six before working hard to find the ‘death seat’.

With the pair matching strides along the home straight, they crossed the finished locked together…11-and-a-half metres clear of Lou Cee third.

“They had a good duel down the straight, but I thought Doug got me on the line,” Hewitt said.

Yet to decide a follow up outing for the pair, Hewitt will “find something suitable” during the countdown to the futurity’s semi-finals.

“I’m not sure where they will race next,” Hewitt said. “There is a bit of time before the semis so I will find something suitable between now and then.”