Pewrify too good in Pacing For Pink 2yo Classic
South Australia’s premier reinsman Wayne Hill always has his ‘game face’ on at race meetings but on Saturday let his guard down at Globe Derby Park.
After winning the Pacing For Pink Two-Year-Old Classic (1800m) on first-starter Pewrify, Hill, 43, was visibly emotional.
“I have worked with the filly from the day she arrived at the stables of trainer Peter Bain,” Hill said.
“To be with her on the journey and to win on race debut was very special.
“She has great speed and was sensational tonight.”
Backed from as much as $2.50 into $1.55 favourite, Pewrify scored a four metre Classic win from Seabreeze Lad ($6) with Cecil Peak ($9.50), six metres away third.
The winner came from gate six, the outside of the front row, to secure the win.
Hill had her away well but was caught wide midfield in the jostle for positions around the first turn.
He let the filly accelerate down the back straight and she quickly raced up to Seabreeze Lad which had led, and the pair went stride for stride, but Pewrify had enough speed to cross and lead.
Hill then rated two-year-old perfectly and she won comfortably.
Pewrify has a busy week ahead going on a pathway to a potential feature race final.
Trainer Peter Bain said the filly would head to Wagga in New South Wales to run in a heat of the Nutrien Classic Sales Race Series over 1740 metres on Friday, May 22.
Qualifying runners will line up in the $200,000 final at Wagga on Saturday, May 30.
Bain said Pewrify had cost only $8000 and Saturday’s Classic had carried a first prize of $6755.
“She is also eligible for Vicbred and Qbred bonuses so there looks to be some travelling ahead,” Bain said.
“Her speed is her biggest asset and hopefully it will be crucial at Wagga next week.”
Bain said stablemate Letsstartinheaven would accompany Pewrify to Wagga to run in a three-year-old colts and geldings heat of the Nutrien Classic Sales Race Series over 2270 metres.
The three-year-olds run in a $100,000 final at Wagga on Saturday, May 30.
Pewrify was one of three winners for Hill who now sits five clear at the head of the SA Driver’s premiership.
SA’s top driver in 2024 and 2025, despite having nearly a month off with a pelvic injury, Hill has driven 54 winners to be four clear of his sister Danielle.
His first winner was Ashante Prince for his wife Sam in the Yarraman Park Racing & Retraining Pace (2230m).
A red hot $1.25 favourite, Ashante Prince won by 5-1/2 metres from Abishek ($101) with Hugh Go ($18), six metres away third.
This six-year-old won at his first run for the Hills a week earlier but had raced greenly.
On Saturday, he paced much better and won comfortably.
“We changed a bit of his gear, and he went a lot better tonight,” trainer Samantha Hill said.
“I think he has the ability to go through the grades.”
Hill’s other winner was Don Capitano in the Valley Horse Transport Pace (1800m).
Backed from $1.60 into $1.40 favourite, Hill sent Don Capitano to the front from gate four to find the lead and rated him perfectly to win by two metres from Zany Girl ($8) with Skinny Horace ($12), a half-metre away third.
The winner is trained by Dean Girardi who achieved a career-best season tally with the victory.
Girardi has trained 19 winners to better his previous best of 18 recorded in the second of his eight-season training career.
A driver himself, Girardi has had 21 wins this season and is chasing his career best driving tally of 34 in 2022.
“As much as I like driving and trying to improve, I sit back and watch our best drivers in action,” Girardi said.
“Watching Wayne over the last few weeks, I just admire his professionalism, and he was brilliant tonight on Don Capitano.”
Another driver having a good season is Katie Wilson, who also trains in partnership with Jill Neilson.
Wilson had her fifth winner from just 26 drives this season when Ruthless Offender was a photo-finish winner of the Kevin & Kay Seymour Pace (2230m).
Despite sitting parked, Ruthless Offender ($3.50 fav) lunged to grab a half head win from The Reginator ($4) with Feng Shui Star ($8), a metre away third.
It was the four-year-old’s third straight win, and he is proving a tough pacer despite tending to be a bit headstrong away from the track.
- story Graham Fischer
- photo Walter Bulyga