Red Hot Mouse Sizzles In Soldiers Saddle Decider

HOT youngster Red Hot Mouse has delivered Londonderry trainer Rod Metselaar his second Soldiers Saddle trophy.

The 23-month old regally bred daughter of Fernando Bale and Mrs. Mouse turned in a polished display to claim the $10,000-to-the-winner series in a smart 29.67 at Bathurst on Monday night.

It was just Red Hot Mouse's second start in the care of Metselaar with a change of kennels necessary following the 12-month suspension of the bitch's initial trainer Hank Vanderburg in the lead up to the Soldiers Saddle series.

METSELAAR SEES RED AHEAD OF SADDLE FINAL

Starting a warm favourite for the Bathurst RSL sponsored series, Red Hot Mouse handed Metselaar his second Soldiers Saddle title, five years on from Tap Out Axe's gripping victory in the 2015 final.

Interestingly, Tap Out Axe carried the red rug in each of his heat, semi-final and final performances, the same draw Red Hot Mouse won both her heat and Monday night's finale from.

Finishing second in the central west feature was a gallant Nangar Opal for Dennis Barnes while rank outsider United Stand filled third for Ashley Marshall.

Metselaar will now target Red Hot Mouse towards next month's Group 1 Ladbrokes National Futurity (520m) at Wentworth Park where she's already recorded a slick 30.06 all-the-way victory.

The National Futurity is shaping up as a fantastic series with the likes of Thursday night's Group 2 Laurels hotpots Immunity and On The Rocks all but certain to feature in the $75,000-to-the-winner bitches classic.

Tipping the scales at just 24 kilos, Monday night's Soldiers Saddle win extended Red Hot Mouse's overall record to six wins from seven starts.

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Lochinvar Chase Makes A Winning Racetrack Return

LOCHINVAR Chase has made a winning return to racing.

But it didn't come as most expected with the former top flight youngster scoring at Bathurst on Monday night in rather bizarre fashion.

Stepping out for the first time since breaking down in a sprint race at Gosford in May, Lochinvar Chase, winner at eight of his 11 career starts, was expected to make light work of his opposition after trialling at Bathurst last week in a slick 17.60.

And after a perfect beginning from box eight on Monday night, running an “unheard of” 7.62 first split, everything looked in order for a brilliant win in extremely fast time over the 307 metres.

But his first start for new trainer Sandra Spratt proved to be anything but conventional, losing the home turn to the point that he came perilously close to hitting the outside fence.

The prodigious talent somehow managed to balance up when straightening for home and finish best to score by just half-a-length over Fergie Pepper in 17.88.

Given the amount of ground he conceded running off so badly it's scary to think what kind of time he was on track to record.

The victory extended Lochinvar Chase's overall record to nine wins from 12 starts, the Bathurst win now sitting beside a sizzling 22.00 Maitland 400 metre success and 29.39 win at The Gardens for the 515 metres.

The January 2018 whelp has also run a scorching 18.43 at Richmond for the 330 metres when prepared by Robert Smith who sadly had to relinquish training the hugely talented sprinter due to ongoing health issues.