Silver Pistol on fire in Second NSW Derby Heat.

Promising Victorian gelding Silver Pistol (Poster Boy) gave the powerful Emma Stewart-Mark Pitt harness racing combination a double after the three year old led all the way to take out the Second Heat of the Summertime Premium Poultry of the NSW Derby last night.

Repeating the success of his stablemate in the First Heat, Silver Pistol who was strongly supported worked his way to the front with Hezatreacherous taking a trail behind the leader. Queenslander Path To Greatness was caught racing outside the leader with Silver Pistol’s stablemate I Am The Storm securing a one out and one back trail for Cameron Hart.

SILVER PISTOL MAR 1 REPLAY HEAT 2 NSW DERBY

Silver Pistol sprinted clear on straightening but Path To Greatness refused to give up and I Am The Storm made a run out wide but in the run to the finish Silver Pistol packed too many guns. In the end he ran out an comfortable three metre win over I Am The Storm with Path To Greatness showing plenty of fight in finishing third and thus qualifying for the Final.

Commenting on Silver Pistol Pitt stated “I was super happy with him. To work off the gate like he did and then back off and go again. He really knuckled down the straight. He can take a bit of driving to get him at full speed but once he’s at full speed he whacks away at that tempo for a long time.”

Second favourite Hesitate lost all chance when broke up after the start and ended up back at the rear of the field. He was still making up good ground in the home straight despite giving them a huge start. In the circumstances his effort in finishing fifth was full of merit and it’s frustrating for connections that he continues to make errors in big races. The challenge for Luke McCarthy will be to iron out these issues and if someone can get the best out of a horse with issues its McCarthy.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink