TASMANIAN Derby winner Buckle Up Wes added the M A Morgan St Leger to his impressive list of wins when he outgunned a game Hellyeah Bolt in the feature race over 461 metres at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart last night (Thursday).
The Ted Medhurst-trained Buckle Up Wes ($2.60) began brilliantly from box seven to lead while the favourite Hellyeah Bolt ($2) was only fairly away from the inside box.
Hellyeah Bolt, prepared by Paul Hili, recovered to be on t7he leader’s heels turning for home and it was obvious a long way out that the two favourites would battle it out.
It looked as if Hellyeah Bolt was going to draw clear of the leader halfway up the home straight but Medhurst’s dog refused to wilt and held the favourite out to win by a comfortable margin with Battek Boss grabbing third just in advance of his kennel mate Club Foot.
Buckle Up Wes, owned by Robyn Johnson and Sharon Sutton, was coming off a brilliant win at WentworthPark on September 14.
The son of Collision-EverlongBay won a grade five and sizzled over the 520 metres in 29.82 at his first look at the track.
Medhurst brought him back to Tasmania the following day and prepared him for the St Leger.
he ran the 461 metre journey in 25.78 with splits of 5.09 and 11.15 but the best part of his race was over the last 100 metres.
Medhurst has always maintained the dog’s strength as his biggest asset but he also has impeccable box manners these days so he is developing into the complete package.
Buckle Up Wes has raced 17 times for 11 wins and four minor placings for $28,000 in stakes.