By Adam Hamilton
Even trainer David Aiken admitted he was in awe of Hectorjayjay’s latest win.
Aiken, who shares his time between his Victorian and NSW stables, watched Hectorjayjay win last night’s Group 3 Melton Plate (1720m) on a TV screen at Menangle and could hardly hear racecaller Dan Mielicki.
“I couldn’t hear the sectional times. It didn’t looked like he going that quickly and he sure did it easily,” Aiken said.
“Then, when I watched the replay again with the sound up and heard the times … wow, it was pretty amazing.”
Hectorjayjay exploded off the gate – a lethal weapon for the Perth Inter Dominion – and was in front from gate within 80m.
Driver Gavin Lang allowed the six-year-old to “steady-up” through a 58.9sec first half of the last mile before letting him rip home.
Hectorjayjay smashed the clock with a 53.8sec last half and 26.6sec closing quarter.
“It’s hard to believe he ran home that quick, but still did it so easily,” Aiken said. “There were a few sort of ‘potting’ him a bit before the race, but I think that would’ve silenced them.
“He’s 1min51.7sec, beaten a good field easily and looked to have plenty left.”
The 1min51.7sec was just 0.9sec outside Cold Major’s track record.
Hectorjayjay now heads for a short spell before returning to prepare for the Perth Inter Dominion, which starts at Gloucester Park on November 25.
“He’ll be away from the races for about a month and then have two runs before we head to Perth,” Aiken said.
“With Victoria getting rid of standing starts, all the country cups go to mobiles, which means there are lots of options for lead-up races with him in October and early November.”
Aiken will need those options given his defending Perth Inter Dom champ Lennytheshark is on a similar timeline.
“I want to and should be able to keep them apart before Perth,” he said.
Lennytheshark has pleased Aiken with “four hopple sessions” at his Shepparton property this campaign.
“He’s pretty forward. If I rushed him he could race in three weeks, but there is no rush,” he said.
“Like Hector, two lead-up runs will be enough for him before Perth.
“I’m very, very happy with the way he’s come back.”
While Chris Alford will definitely drive Lennytheshark in Perth, Aiken said he would let Hectorjayjay’s owners talk with Gavin Lang about the Inter Dominion drive.
“Personally I think Hectorjayjay is made for Gavin and vice-versa, but there’s a lot of water to flow under the bridge and I can understand Gavin has lots of great driving options,” he said.
Lang is also the regular driver of Emma Stewart’s quartet Yankee Rockstar, Guaranteed, Ideal For Real and Restrepo.
While the Inter Dominion seems unlikely for Ideal For Real, Stewart has said Yankee Rockstar, Guaranteed and Restrepo are all chances to tackle the Perth series if they please connections over the next couple of months.
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