CHEWING Steel is set to campaign in Darwin after opening his account for new connections at Burrumbeet yesterday.
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Owner Chris Willey said Chewing Steel would follow the same path of other horses he had by heading to Darwin.
Having just his second run for Willey, wife Joanna and daughter Paul, Chewing Steal ($5) took out the Crop Care Australasia/McKinnon Seed Cleaning 0-68 Handicap, 1350m, at Burrumbeet yesterday.
The lightly raced seven-year-old had a length to spare over a fast-finishing Last Outlaw ($3.50 favourite), with Mister Cool ($10) third.
The Willeys acquired Chewing Steel in the sale ring in August for what now looks like being a bargain price of $4000.
He was previously trained by Mark Kavanagh, winning two of seven starts, but had not raced since December, 2011.
Mornington trainer Wez Hunter, who prepares several horses for the Willeys, gave him a first-up run on the Geelong synthetic on December 9 before venturing to Burrumbeet.
The Willeys also purchased multiple listed and group winner Red Colossus as the same time as Chewing Steel and has the classy galloper with former champion jumps jockey and now trainer Brett Scott.
Coghills Creek trainer Terry Kelly has made an encouraging start to the new year.
He produced winners at Burrumbeet and Murtoa yesterday. Miss Montgomery ($5) dived on the line after coming from last to deadheat with Sophie Dorothea in the Eureka Concrete Maiden, 1350m.
She was Kelly’s first winner at Burrumbeet since he had a double at the track in 2007, which featured Skalaad in the cup. Miss Montgomery is a four-year-old by Kempinsky and the win follows two thirds in just five starts.
Kelly also saluted with Red Eagle in a maiden, 1600m, at Murtoa.
The four-year-old had struggled to beat home a runner in his first two visits to the races.
The celebrations did not stop there for the Kelly stable.
Kelly’s partner Angela Bridges’ sister, Wodonga trainer Wendy Church, also had a win at Burrumbeet.
She landed the money with Little Big Man ($5) in the Mt Misery Sand and Soil Maiden, 1800m.
The seven-year-old has had his 31st start after six seconds and two thirds.