Craven hoping for a case of third time lucky

Matthew Craven is hoping it’s a case of third time lucky when he jumps into the harness racing sulky behind Heza Son Of Agun (Art Major) in this weekend’s Group 1 Chariots Of Fire at Menangle.

Heza Son Of Agun clearly cemented his place in the country’s premier race for four-year-olds when he took out the Paleface Adios Stakes on Saturday night (Feb. 11).

He quickly found the pegs shortly after the start before Craven took hold and allowed Cantfindabettorman to assume control over the 1609m sprint trip.

Craven eased his charge off the back of the leader turning for home, and Heza Son Of Agun gradually joined Cantfindabettorman before drawing clear and holding a three-metre margin on the line.

The Craven stable has been represented in the past two editions of the event, with Kowalski Analysis third behind Expensive Ego in 2021 and Bettor Call Me unplaced behind Better Eclipse last year.

HEZA SON OF AGUN REPLAY

Craven was happy Heza Son Of Agun was able to make full use of a favorable front row alley.

“You need things to go your way in these races and he had the gate speed to use the good barrier to advantage,” Craven said.

“And then we were able to pull out at the top of the straight in plenty of time to level up with the leader, and then he kept at it and was strong on the line.”

Craven is under no illusions as to the magnitude of the task ahead when Heza Son Of Agun lines up against horses the calibre of Captain Ravishing and Catch A Wave.

“We are going to need luck in the barrier draw and then get the right trip up against the real good ones,” he said.

Craven believes Heza Son Of Agun is nearing his peak.

“He was bucking and kicking in the paddock on Sunday morning thinking that ‘he’s the man’, and when he’s like that he races well,” he said.

“Ideally I’d like to get him a little bit better, so I’m just hoping he has a good week and can capitalise on it.

“He’s a gross little stallion who takes plenty of work and it’s a case of getting the balance right in getting enough work into him without sending him over the top.”

Catch A Wave, the $2.10 favorite, made his way into the Chariots Of Fire when he came from last at the 500m mark to finish fourth in a 26.8 last quarter.

Kate Gath had little choice but to ease Catch A Wave off the gate from barrier 11 before latching onto the back of Interest Free in the three-wide trail, and the son of Captaintreacherous was doing his best work over the last 100m.

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harness Racing Victoria