It was the longest race of the day.
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2970 metres.
Yet from beginning to end, there was only one horse in control.
While the Maimuru-based Ned Pepper, as trained by Katie Jenner and driven by Angela Hedges, still managed to add a hint of drama over its final metres, pulling up short as Peter Trevor-Jones' Beetson threatened to pull off a comeback at the race's death, it was otherwise never in doubt.
Using it's favourable front row second position to establish an early lead, the horse paced its race exceptionally, withstanding an early charge from John O'Shea and later an ambitious outside challenge from Fouroeight before pulling away in the final lap.
And pull away it did.
Starting with a lead of a length just after the final bell rang, by the time the eight-year-old Bay Gelding had 400 metres to go, it was around 35 metres in front, with the rest of the field failing to make up ground.
It meant that while the final straight was struggle for the horse, the rest of the field had left their run too late, allowing the horse take its third straight victory after wins in Dubbo and Peak Hill.
Speaking to HRNSW race announcers after the race, Hedges said she was glad to have come up with another win for the trainer and horse's connections.
"He's doing a terrific job... [trainer] Katie [Jenner] does very good with the horses," Hedges said.
"[Ned Pepper] loves form trip as we all see, don't worry about the last quarter because look at the middle one, and he done well to get home and actually hold on."
Acknowledging that after three regional wins the horse will probably begin to turn its attention to bigger events at venues like Menangle, Hedges admitted it was good to rack up some regional wins after solid showings last time it appeared in a higher grade of racing.
"That's five cups now... he's just as good as the top class ones [horses], he's just been hunting around the bush to get what he can.
"Next season, or later on in the season, we'll go to Menangle. He went there before and mixed it with them... every time he goes he comes a place down there.
"But why go [to Menangle] when you can not win [or] come here?"
He's just as good as the top class [horses], he's just been hunting around the bush to get what he can.
- Ned Pepper's driver, Angela Hedges
Jenner, the trainer of the winner, concurred in her post-race HRNSW interview, adding that the gelding will take a break after his fifth cup win this year before turning his attention to bigger events.
"He's going to the paddock for... only a little break, just for a week," she explained, adding that with the horse's winning reputation of late, moving towards Menangle-sized races were always going to be an inevitability.
"That's only where he can go now for a while."
Ned Pepper came way with $7200 of the $12,000 prize pool for its connections, with the Beetson ($1800) and Holly's Miss Molly ($1200) also doing well out of the placings.
Fouroeight, highly touted before the race, had a difficult day, its failed attempt to push to the front meaning it finished more than 45m behind the winner.
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