CHIEF DESTROYER seems to have found a new lease on life with his effort at Devonport on Monday night in a C2-C3 pace over 2297 metres his second win in the space of four outings.
The Shelley Barnes-trained gelding won two in succession on country tracks in Victoria in February just prior to finding his way to Barnes’ stables at Sassafras on Tasmania’s North-West Coast.
The gelding notched a couple of minor placings at his two starts for Barnes in May but it wasn’t until Barnes took him to Devonport last month that he found a way to win.
Chief Destroyer began his career in Victoria and won on debut in a 3YO event at Horsham when in the care of David Murphy.
But his next win was two years later and what followed was mixed form in restricted grade races.
Barnes has been patient and the gelding has just started to respond to his new training regime.
At this latest outing he was rushed out of the gate to find the front and once driver James Johnson had him in his comfort zone the gelded son of It Is I-Sharleen was always travelling like a winner.
Chief Destroyer kicked clear turning for home and went on to defeat outsider Buckingham Boy by four metres with Me Mate Les just over five metres away third.
Photo courtesy of Greg Mansfield.