Some runners get better with age and, after recent performances, the forty-six start veteran Hatchet certainly falls into that category as he looks to further enhance that reputation when he contests the $150,000 Gold Jewel over 1400m at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
The Robert Heathcote-trained seven-year-old arrives on a winning streak having saluted at his past three starts. While the results themselves were impressive, the manner in which Hatchet has gone about his work — showing the enthusiasm and sharp finishing burst of a much younger horse — has given his connections plenty of reason to be excited.
At the Sunshine Coast on January 24, Hatchet was slow away, turned for home with five lengths to make up and spent most of the straight racing in restricted room. He only found clear running inside the final 100 metres when still in fifth place and two lengths from the lead before producing a brilliant late surge to win by 0.20 lengths.
He followed that with another strong performance at Doomben on February 7. After being hampered at the start, Hatchet settled five to six lengths off a fast early pace. He had reduced that margin to two-and-a-half lengths on straightening before unleashing a powerful sprint inside the final 180 metres, turning a two-length deficit into an emphatic 2.77 length victory.
His most recent success came at Eagle Farm on February 28 where he was again taken back from a wide barrier and settled eight lengths off the early speed. Entering the straight he was confronted by a wall of horses before switching back to the inside where he responded superbly, quickly building momentum and powering away to win by 1.78 lengths. That performance was even more impressive given he kept the handy Battlefield, who carried 4kg less, safely in second place.
It is difficult to fault that sequence of performances, particularly given Hatchet had to be ridden along at different stages of each race rather than enjoying a soft run in transit. Jockey Vlad Duric played a key role in all three victories.
Those wins have all come over 1200 metres and Saturday’s assignment steps up to 1400 metres. However, the way Hatchet has been finishing off his races — the last two victories coming under 59kg — suggests the rise in distance should not be an issue, even with his weight increasing to 60kg.
Early betting for the Gold Jewel is headed by the Tony Gollan-trained John Rambo at $2.80.
John Rambo has finished runner-up in three of his past five starts but has not tasted victory since scoring twelve starts ago in April 2025.
Hatchet currently shares the second line of betting at $6.50 alongside the Shaun Dwyer-trained Anemacore, who has won three of his past four starts. Two of those wins have come over Saturday’s 1400 metre journey, including victory in the Listed Sunshine Coast Cup.
In his only defeat during that sequence, Anemacore finished third behind Rockribbed and Rothfire in the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes.
Hatchet will clearly need to produce another strong effort to extend his winning run, but given his recent habit of overcoming adversity during races, it would be unwise to dismiss his chances.
