Hellbent's Fire Lane Makes Winning Debut in Max Lees Classic

Mark Smith - Saturday November 12

With a half-brother catalogued for the Gold Coast in January, the Hellbent filly Fire Lane scored a timely win at her career debut in Saturday’s $150,000 Max Lees Classic (900m) at Newcastle.

Fire Lane toughs it out (image Steve Hart)

Ridden by Jay Ford for Brad Widdup, Fire Lane repelled the challenge of Godolphin’s Exceed And Excel colt Cylinder by a short-half-head with the Russian Revolution filly Line Of Law a further length and a quarter back in third.

Widdup is bullish on the progeny of Yarraman Park Stud’s Hellbent.

“He’s a terrific young stallion, and we were lucky to get a few of them at the Magic Millions,” Widdup said.

“She is the first I have raced. She has a good head on her shoulders.

“I have a nice bunch of two-year-olds, and it’s good to get a win on the board.”

Advertisement

A $330,000 purchase for BK Racing & Breeding/Brad Widdup Racing from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Fire Lane is the fourth winner from as many to race from the Charge Forward mare Heritage Lane.

Fire Lane a $330,000 Magic Millions yearling

A half-sister to the dam of Group II Edward Manifold Stakes winner El Daana (Redoute’s Choice), Heritage Lane has an Astern colt in the Glen Gallic Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions (Lot 118).

Heritage Lane was a $70,000 purchase for LJ Ibbotson & PA Ibbotson at this year’s Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale when carrying a full sister to Fire Lane.

Hellbent has 16 lots catalogued for the Magic Millions. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Nzb A'freight Max Lees Classic 900m

Newcastle Track: Good(4) Time: 0:52.37
1
Fire Lane
- 2f Hellbent (AUS) x Heritage Lane (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: J Ford 54.5
2
0.1
Cylinder
- 2c Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Circular (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56.5
3
1.4
Line Of Law
- 2f Russian Revolution (AUS) x Inside Line (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 54.5
4
1.8
Tracy's Spirit
- 2f Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Tracy's Image (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 53
5
5.7
Denman Star
- 2c Denman (AUS) x Sassy Sister (AUS) (Dane Shadow (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Tommy Berry 56.5
6
8.2
Wild Beau
- 2c Brazen Beau (AUS) x Wildenstein (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: J R Collett 56.5
7
8.5
Ferghana
- 2c Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Alizes (NZ) (Rory's Jester (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: N Rawiller 56.5
8
9.8
Speedster
- 2c Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Tropezina (AUS) (Epaulette (AUS))
Tnr: I B Finn Rdr: Reece Jones 55
9
9.9
North Of Eli
- 2c Headwater (AUS) x Kenzie (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: Regan Bayliss 56.5
10
10.5
Greatestofease
- 2f Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Lecture (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: C Schofield 54.5
11
14.8
Naked Eye
- 2f Star Turn (AUS) x No Clothes On (AUS) (Medaglia D'Oro (USA))
Tnr: S C Jones Rdr: G Buckley 54.5
More Reading...
Mary Shan Wins G3 Challenge - Full Brother for K1
Black-type success has always seemed to be a matter of when and not if for highly talented Almanzor (Fr) mare Mary Shan, but few would have expected it to come at the expense of a $1.50 favourite and reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year.
G1 NZ Oaks Contender for Gerry Harvey
A homebred for Gerry Harvey, whose grand-dam Jezabeel won a Melbourne Cup, three year-old filly Pulsatilla is a new stakes-winner for Westbury Stud sire Redwood (GB) with the promise of more to come.
Kiwi Bred Here to Shock All Class at Caulfield
An inch-perfect ride by Mark Zahra has aided warhorse Here To Shock to add another stakes win to his belt as the Group One winner defeated the fast-closing Persian Spirit in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
New SW Tarzino - Tshiebwa wins Listed Wanganui Cup
Race favourite Tshiebwe followed a perfect script as he galloped his way into contention for the Gr.3 NZ Campus of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) in January with a strong performance to take out the Listed Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup (2040m) on Saturday.
Flying For Fun Wins Listed Starlight Stakes
Bryce Heys was the trainer of ill-fated stallion Spieth, a brilliant stakes-winning sprinter who died after just four seasons at stud, and he is also putting the polish on his best runner to date Flying for Fun.
Hustler too strong in $750,000 G2 Zipping Classic
Five-year-old mare She’s A Hustler continues to meet every challenge, defeating more seasoned rivals at weight-for-age in the Gr.2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Hellbent Filly Triumphs in Hot 2YO Race at Randwick
Three unbeaten juvenile stakes-winners – Empire of Japan, Platinum Jubilee and Godfather – lined up in the open juvenile race over 1100m at Randwick on Saturday, but none of them emerged the winner.
Fire Lane Returns to Form – Half-Brother to Sell at MM 2YOs in Training
Hellbent filly Fire Lane made a winning debut at Newcastle in November last year beating a colt called Cylinder, who will line up in $20million The Everest at Randwick on Saturday.
G3 Eclipse Stakes To Casino Seventeen – Fifth Black Type Victory
Recording his first win for trainer Gavin Bedggood, the well-travelled Casino Prince gelding Casino Seventeen was coming off some handy runs with all falling into place on Saturday at Caulfield, with the 8yo gelding winning the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Eclipse Stakes (1800m), his fifth career black type victory.
First SW For Extreme Warrior As Eternal Warrior Wins Merson Cooper
Saddling up a pair of unraced juveniles in Saturday’s $175,000 Listed MRC Magic Millions Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield, it was Lloyd Kennewell’s colt Eternal Warrior that took the prize at big odds, and in the process handed Rosemont Stud’s Extreme Warrior his first stakes winner.