WHEN harness racing trainer Shelley Barnes acquired nuggetty five-year-old gelding Chief Destroyer in March this year she was hoping he could return a profit for his owners.
Last Sunday night in Launceston Chief Destroyer made it three wins from his past five starts and given he has now proven himself capable from a standing start the future looks bright for the gelded son of It Is I.
Chief Destroyer hails from Victoria where he had 21 starts form three wins on country tracks and while Barnes would not reveal his purchase price she admitted he has so far proven to be a very cheap buy.
At his latest assignment Chief Destroyer stepped well from a standing start of the Beena Buster Stakes and driver James Johnson had no qualms about settling the five-year-old three-back the fence.
He travelled sweetly under a hold to the home turn and when an opportunity presented Johnson eased his charge off the fence and then around the heels of the leaders then powered home to score a convincing win over Satisfied Grin with race leader Prettyboytroy dead-heating for third with the favourite Our Maddys Star that faced the breeze for the last half of the race.
Listen to what trainer Shelly Barnes had to say about Chief Destroyer’s latest win.
By Peter Staples