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.”

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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. 

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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
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