Well known Hastings trainer Patrick Campbell enjoyed a day to remember on his home turf when he produced a winning double there on Saturday.
Plucky three-year-old filly Lady Guinness set up the first leg with a gritty front running display to down her older rivals over 1600 metres before Chris Johnson produced an inch perfect effort to guide Scandalo home by the narrowest of margins two races later.
Those who took the short odds on the favourite were happy enough throughout the early stages as she enjoyed a comfortable run in midfield as Lady Guinness set a solid speed up front. Rider Lisa Allpress had Lady Guinness rolling nicely approaching the home corner and shot her two lengths clear early in the run home.
Asama Blue charged to within a length of the filly with 100 metres to run but she responded to the challenge gamely to hold a winning margin at the line from outsider Royal Ruby who snuck up the rails late to snatch second from a weakening Asama Blue. Hunta Pence roared home late for fourth to add further to his trainer’s delight which was well evident when questioned after the event.“She was rated nicely in front and relaxed well so it was a good win,” noted Campbell.
“In fact they both went well as I thought Hunta Pence was good too.“It was a very strong effort but she will go out to the paddock now and I think she could be pretty useful next year.”
Campbell enjoyed a chuckle when questioned about the finishing order in relation to his ownership interests in both runners.“I’ve got a major share in the one that ran fourth and a small share in the one that won,” he laughed.
“Lady Guinness is owned by a great group of guys from around here. They’re hard case blokes and for most of them it’s their first horse so they’re having a ball.”
