Son of Jereme’s Jet wins Southern Cross heat

Talented Victorian harness racing three year old Hez The One came home a strong winner of heat one of the Trotsguide.Com.Au Southern Cross for three-year-old colts and geldings over 2230m.

 

Trainer Rebecca East, from Heywood, said Hez The One had tended to over race but was starting to learn to race more tractably.

 

East paid credit to driver Danielle Hill who had the gelding pacing truly at the rear of the field in the heat before bringing him with a well time run to win.

 

It was Hill’s 100th win for the season.

 

A well backed $4.20 chance, Hez The One scored by two and a half metres from the pacemaker Officianado ($3.40) with The Dapper Don ($15.50) was 11 metres away third.

 

The three-year-old was bred and is part-owned at Portland in Victoria by Graham Cole who shares ownership with Graham McDonald from Port MacDonnell in South Australia.

 

“He has always been a bit head strong,” East said. “While he has been a very good horse for us, he has not always helped himself by being too keen in his races.

 

“That was a bit of an issue last time at Mildura but tonight he was a lot better for Danni.”

 

It proved to be an interesting heat with Officianado leading and the $2.10 favourite Hit Maka on his back.

 

Just after midway through the race driver Ryan Hryhorec had the option to come off the fence and take the one-one position but history would show it was an error as the master reinsman found himself in a pocket until 200 metres from home when the race was over for him as a winning chance.

 

Jayson Finniss, on Officianado, aware of Hryhorec’s predicament, dashed for home, but Hez The One was winding up out wide and finished best to score.

 

It was a good night for East with Hez The One qualifying for the Southern Cross semi-finals while at Melton in Victoria, East’s partner Kevin Brough had two-year-old filly Just Wantano qualify for the final of the Empires Stallions Vicbred final by finishing second to Whirily School.

 

With his victory Hez The One built his career record to 12 wins from just 20 starts with five placings.

 

East said the gelding would return home before contesting the $9505 Horsham Guineas (2200m) on Wednesday, July 8.