Two-year-old defies it all in $50,000 Sapling Stakes

Two-year-old pacer Rippin Rupert overcame it all to claim harness racing’s Group 2 Sapling Stakes at Menangle tonight.

At just his second race start, the son of Tintin In America was the first emergency for the $50,000 feature.

He gained a start then overcame a protest to be declared the winner, breaking his maiden in the process.

Trained by Bernie Hewitt, the gelding was driven by Jason Hewitt and the family have a big opinion of the horse.

“He’s up there with the best of our two-year-olds,” said Jason Hewitt.

“We had a little setback with him around his first start.”

This victory provided the 33-year-old with his biggest win to date.

“That’s definitely my biggest win and it’s great to do it for Wayne and Julie (Loader) too, they put a lot into the sport.

“There’s plenty of two-year-olds at home and the amount of work that goes into them over the older horses, it’s nice to get some reward.”

Eased out of barrier three, Hewitt eased Rippin Rupert early and ended four back along the pegs as the first two quarters were 29.4 and 25.8 seconds.

As space was created, the pair moved up a position and around the home turn angled up the track away from the pegs.

Spotting the leader and race favourite Tardelli a couple of lengths, Rippin Rupert overcame the final two quarters of 29.2 and 28.8 seconds to win by a half-head over Our Sunset Delight with Tardelli more than a metre behind in third.

The mile rate was 1:53.2.

Rippin Rupert was purchased for $20,000 at last year’s Australian Pacing Gold Sydney Sale being bred by Yirribee Pacing Stud.

To view the results from Menangle on Saturday night click here.

By Amanda Rando for Harnesslink