WHEN Brighton trainer Shane Whitney purchased Bit Hot Finchy about nine months ago he was confident the dog would win multiple feature races.
But a wrist injury after having only three starts for Whitney kept Bit Hot Finchy off the scene for eight months.
At Tattersall’s Park in Hobart last night Bit Hot Finchy delivered the goods when he led and held out quality opposition to win the Easter Cup final over 461 metres.
Bit Hot Finchy was having his first start for eight months when he battled into fourth spot in a heat of the Easter Cup last Thursday week.
Sneaking into the final was a good result but punters were loathe to support the son of Bit Chili-Blitzing Chloe as he was sent around a $17 chance in the final
Bit Hot Finchy began well from box four and had enough speed to cross Smichols that hustled along the rails to try and hold the front spot heading to the top turn.
Whitney’s dog got a two-length break on Smichols turning for home and then showed strength to hold out one of the favourites Star Chamber ($2.60) that came at him over the concluding stages with Bain’s Lane producing another game effort to run home along the rails to finish third ahead of Smichols.
“When I bought this dog we had high hopes of winning some god races but unfortunately he injured a wrist and it has taken this lone to come good,’ Whitney said.
“I was keen to buy him because he is a very fast dog capable of running 25.80 or better in Hobart but we only got three starts from him before he hurt his wrist.”
“We thought we had him right three times but the wrist kept going sore so we just gave him more time to fully recover,” he said.
Bit Hot Finchy was strong on the line in winning the Cup clocking a time of 26.24 and Whitney said he is bound to improve on that effort.
“He had a good blow after his first-up run and he had another good blow tonight so there is no doubt he can improve on this run.”
Whitney said an interstate trip is on the cards for Bit Hot Finchy.
“If he can get his times below 26 seconds in Hobart then I’ll probably take him to Victoria and have a crack at a race like the Warrnambool Cup at the end of this month,” Whitney said.