By Adam Hamilton
Even the man holding the reins said he was “blown away” by Hectorjayjay’s Swan Hill Cup win.
Josh Aiken, Hectorjayjay’s new driver, had a fairytale start to the role when the pair combined to win by 24.4m last Saturday night.
“I knew he was good, but it’s fair to say I think even more of him now. It’s hard to explain how awesome that felt,” Aiken said.
It saw Hectorjayjay grab $4.50 outright favouritism with the Aussie TAB for the Perth Inter Dominion.
And it came just minutes after his stablemate and defending Perth Inter Dom champ Lennytheshark scored a fantastic first-up win at Menangle.
What contrasting wins they were.
Lennytheshark sat parked most of the race and packed too much speed and class for the leader, Allblack Stride, to win by three metres.
Despite being first-up since June 26, Lennytheshark paced a 1min49.9sec mile.
Hectorjayjay, the most explosive and arguably best pacer in Australia, made the Swan Hill Cup a one-act affair.
Aiken didn’t have to bustle him out from a wide draw, instead just working across at his leisure to take the lead from Johnny Fox after 150m and always looking in control.
Former topliner Guaranteed, first-up for 21 months, moved around to sit parked in the middle stages, but it was clear at the bell he was running for minor money.
Aiken allowed Hectorjayjay a little more rein down the back straight in a 26.8sec and then asked him to quicken slightly again rounding the home bend.
Hectorjayjay put panels between he and his rivals with a phenomenal 53.1sec last half and 26.3sec closing quarter.
“He really did it under his own steam. I didn’t plan to win by that much, he just exploded away from them when I asked him to quicken,” Aiken said.
“And the thing to remember is that as good as he looked the other night, he is a sit-sprinter. That’s when he’s at his absolute best.
“But he’s showing more versatility and it’s good to have that gate speed going into the Inter Dominion, especially on a track like Gloucester Park.”
It was the weekend which further cemented the Aiken team’s stranglehold on the Perth Inter Dominion.
“Dad was really happy with Lenny’s win,” Josh said. “I thought he was underdone, but Dad knew he’d come on well from the trial behind Hector and would be ready for the first-up run.
“To come out and do the work and win in 1min49.9sec shows what a special horse he is and we know how much improvement this is still to come.
“It will be perfect for him to back-up again this week and go from the mile to 2300m.”
Fans must put a ring around Saturday, November 12.
That’s when Lennytheshark, Hectorjayjay and so many other big names are set to clash in the $50,000 Group 2 Smoken Up Sprint at Melton.
It will be the last lead-up race before the Perth series.
“Lenny’s only run in-between will be this Saturday, while Hector will go to the Yarra Valley Cup (November 3) ahead of the Smoken Up,” Josh said.
“It looks very, very likely Lenny and Hector will clash in that Smoken Up.”
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