Up Hill Jill is enjoying a break from racing but the Victorian champion was "the X factor'' behind kennelmate My Redeemer's fastest time of the night win in Saturday's Heats of the Group 1 Ladbrokes Peter Mosman Classic at Wentworth Park.
My Redeemer trailed tearaway leader Chief's Sidekick to the home turn before hitting the front at the top of the straight and fending off a late surge from Zipping Falcon to win Heat two by a length.
Chief's Sidekick had posted sizzling sectional times of 5.39, 13.85 and 17.97 but My Redeemer finished too well and stopped the clock at 29.93 for the 520m.
After the race David Geall, trainer of My Redeemer and Up Hill Jill, said: "I brought Up Hill Jill to Sydney as a travelling companion for My Redeemer.
"She is not only his younger half sister but they are great mates and he always responds to having her for company on a long road trip.
"When I told my wife Rose I was taking Up Hill Jill for a run she was surprised but I insisted the champ would love to ride along with her pal and she seemed to love every minute of it.''
Heat one was taken out by Chief's Sidekick's litter brother and kennelmate Chief's Empire, who led throughout in 30.13, while the other Heat winners were Pure Project in 30.32 and Elusive Wave in 30.33.
Chief's Empire's trainer Darren Brown considers him slightly inferior to Chief's Sidekick and another from the litter, Percy's Empire, but Chief's Empire's ability to record slick splits of 5.44 and 13.92 put him in front and sealed his victory.
The Rod Metselaar-trained Pure Project came from third early to lead turning for home and despite adopting his customary tendency to run wide, held on to win by a neck from Blue Moon Rising.
Elusive Wave was a long-priced winner for trainer Vic Sultana, leading all the way from box one to score by just over a length from the strong finishing Two Times Twice.
"The rails draw won the race for Elusive Wave, it just shows how important boxes are in these races,'' Sultana said later.
"Her litter sister and kennelmate Sky Wave is quicker but she missed the start from box five and missed a place in her Heat.''
Unquestionably the best performance of the beaten division in the Classic Heats was the third placing by Beast Unleashed in Heat four.
Making his debut at Wentworth Park, the JODIE Lagogiane-trained Beast Unleashed missed the start by 10 lengths but showed incredible speed to rip through the field and be third on the back straight.
After looming into second spot the early effort took its toll and he faded in the straight to finish third, thus qualifying for next Saturday's semi-finals.
"I think he might have hit his head on the lids as he left the starting boxes, that's the only reason I can find for him coming out so badly,'' trainer Lagogiane said later.
First four in each of Saturday's four Heats will contest this week's two semi-finals, with the first four past the post in those races going into Saturday week's $75,000 to the winner Classic final.
See you next week!
