The famous sire Art Major has bred another winner, as Bernie Hewitt drove his two-year-old filly Lady Eupheme to a maiden victory at Bathurst on Wednesday afternoon.
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Lady Euphreme, from Art Major x Reggae Miss, started the Harness Racing NSW Two Year Old Fillies Pace (1730 metres) as a firm outsider, paying the biggest odds at $34.
Hewitt's bay hadn't won a race in six previous starts, with her closest chance coming from a second place finish in March.
Following the race, Hewitt said Lady Euphreme had matured well in the past several months.
"She's had been over racing and doing a few things wrong," he said.
"She's really matured and probably needs another six months off to help develop, but she's certainly learning how to race now. It'll do her good come next season.
"She's not quite strong enough but as the season has gone on, she's learned how to race and has got stronger. I can't wait to get her in the paddock and give her the time she deserves.
"Maybe nine to 10 months down the line, I definitely think she'll be a better filly."
There were two gallops in the opening stanza of the race, which virtually ruled Shannonsideal ($26) and race favourite Orbie ($2.60) out of contention, although the former would recover to finish fifth.
Lady Eupheme settled three back on the inside and at the bell, where she was running fourth, with Heidi Boom ($26), driven by Hewitt's son Doug, on the outside in third and I Feel Adorable ($3.70) and Kezzamac ($3.30) running ahead on the inside in first and second respectively.
The order didn't change order until the stretch home much, as Lady Euphreme pushed three wide to challenge the leader I Feel Adorable and the new second-place hopeful Olivia Shannon ($6).
Lady Eupheme managed to get over the top of the front two, as Hewitt powered the filly to the front in the last 50 metres to claim his two-year-old's first ever career win by one and half metres ahead of her closest rival.
Olivia Shannon and I Feel Adorable would finish in second and third respectively, while Hewitt's other starter Heidi Boom missed out on a place, running in fourth.
Shannonsideal finished fifth, while Kezzamac and face favourite Orbie finished sixth and seventh respectively to round out the field.
Following the race, Hewitt said he wants to give the filly a spell but he's unsure if she'll get another run before then.
"We'll debate that now, whether she has another run during the breeder's series," he said.
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