A week after landing her first metropolitan winner, apprentice Chelsea Hall has defied her opposition with daring tactics at Mornington.
Riding the $101 outsider Miss Hissy in Wednesday’s Carol Campbell Handicap over 2000m, Hall established a big lead to steal the race.
Last week Hall opened her city account with victory on Sunday Pray at Sandown for her master John Moloney.
Hall’s catch me if you can’ tactics on Miss Hissy saw the mare get out with a lead of between 12 and 15 lengths at the 1000m mark but she was unaware she was that far in front.
“No way, that’s unreal,” Hall said when told of her mid-race advantage.
“I couldn’t hear them but I never look back because I don’t want to know. I just want to ride my own race.
“I could hear growling coming from behind me into the straight and I was hoping they wouldn’t get me.
“She’s keeps going at the one pace and was strong to the line.”
Hall said instructions were not to dig the seven-year-old out of the gates and let her find her feet.
“I’m glad I didn’t as she’s got a high-cruising speed and I could have let her slide a bit more,” she said.
“Getting going early was probably the way to ride her as they couldn’t catch her.”
Tasmanian trainer Paul Maher said similar tactics had been adopted on the mare when successful in a lead-up race to the Launceston Cup earlier in the year.
But as the mare had been carrying big weights in lower grade benchmark races that she contested on Wednesday, Maher said Miss Hissy hadn’t been able to find the lead.
“With 51-1/2 kilos today, I said to Chelsea don’t fight her, just go with her,” Maher said.
“Keep her comfortable and if you get out with a margin to not panic as she’s done it before.
“No doubt the turnaround in form will shock a lot of people but on her best form back home she was right in this race.”
