Plumpton Hope destroyed his rivals in the fastest of the three MIA Breeders Plate heats for Wagga trainer Jim Fury on Saturday.
On debut, Plumpton Hope ($8.90) left highly fancied Redbank Blaze ($1.80 fav) in his wake as he eased to a 33-metre win at Leeton.
He clocked a mile rate of 2:00.3, almost than a second faster than Jovial Rock’s win for Wayne Sullivan.
Temora trainer-driver Ray Walker took the reins on the son of Sportswriter and was impressed with the way he was able to draw away from his rivals with 600 metres remaining.
After jumping to the lead, Plumpton Hope was a clear leader coming around the turn for home before extending the margin in the straight.
However Walker isn’t convinced with how the form will stack up.
“I’ve gone two minutes and he’s beat them 33 metres so the rest didn’t go so good,” Walker said.
Walker has been behind the reins in all his trials plus Fury has been working Plumpton Hope at his Temora track.
With a win and a second in two lead up trials Walker thought he could cause an upset.
“He (Fury) has been bringing him over to my place and he works very good on my track,” he said.
‘“I was pretty confident from the draw and with Paul Kahlefeldt’s horse drawn bad I was confident I could beat him.
“Jimmy has done a job good with him and having a lot of fun.”
It was the first time Fury, who bought broodmare Savannah Anne Lombo in foal with Plumpton Hope, had entered a horse in a lucrative in the series.
He is now anxiously waiting the barrier draw for the $40,000 final, to be released on Tuesday.
Walker has won the juvenille feature twice in the last 15 years and believes with the right draw Plumpton Hope could join Mike Brennan and Run Albert Run as his Breeders Plate winners.
Morundah trainer David Druitt took out the third heat with Hieland Laddie, who clocked 2:03.8.
