Two Hats leaves it late in Houlahan Hurdle

Darryl Sherer - Sunday August 20

Two Hats left it until the last metre of Sunday's $125,000 JJ Houlahan Hurdle (3200m) at Ballarat to get his nose in front.

Advertisement
Aaron Purcell (left) with his father James. Photo: Facebook

The Aaron Purcell-trained Two Hats ($5) jumped the last hurdle behind but wore down the $1.45 favourite Chequered Flag on the run in to score by a nose with longtime leader Mujadale ($11) three lengths back in third.

Purcell told Racing Victoria the seven-year-old son of Holy Roman Emperor would now be sent to the spelling paddock with the Galleywood Hurdle in May one of the early goals.

"He's been a great horse all year and was second in the National (Hurdle) and it's great to get a big win today," Purcell said.

"On the testing ground today and with a good strong tempo he was the strongest stayer on the day. I knew he'd fight all the way to the line.

"He hasn't been too far off the top so he doesn't have to improve much to win one of the big ones next year."

Two Hats was ridden to victory by Braidon Small, the son of Cyril Small who partnered Vo Rogue to several front running Group I victories during the late 1980s.

"They went really quick early and I planned on being closer but my lad was flat out trying to keep up with them early," Small said.

"I got travelling down the back and got on the back of Johnny Allen (Chequered Flag) at the third last and I thought I was a winning hope,

"Jumping the last Johnny kicked back but my lad dug deep and it wasn't until I got back that I realised that I had won."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Same Race - New Name- $1 million THE MOVE TO STRIKE THOROUGHBRED CLUB STAKES
First run in 1968 and previously featured on Caulfield Cup Day, the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes enters an exciting new era in 2025.
Aussie Bred Sprinter to Run in G1 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint This Weekend
Australian spring racing might appear to be the centre of the universe in our neck of the woods, but in the Northern Hemisphere this weekend it is all about the Breeders’ Cup meeting at Del Mar in California and an Aussie bred sprinter could be poised to spring an upset.
Day 1 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale 375,000 Guineas for August George
Smart two-year-old AUGUST GEORGE topped the opening day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale at Park Paddocks when selling for 375,000 guineas to Qatari trainer Gassim Ghazali, one of five lots to realise 200,000 guineas or more.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 28
Here is the full list of 24 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Debut Winner for Fierce Impact
Lovatsville based young gun Fierce Impact (Jpn) produced a tenacious debut winner at Swan Hill on Tuesday in the Seymour Bloodstock colours.
First Stakes Win for The Autumn Sun Half-Brother
The Listed Chantilly Grand Prix du Nord (2000m) in France overnight provided a first stakes win for blueblood Dubawi colt Azimpour, the half-brother to Champion Australian 3YO Colt and now G1 sire The Autumn Sun.
Kiwi Breeding Partnership Strikes with She's a Hustler
John Thompson and Greg Tomlinson have combined for another major stakes success in Australia.
$10 million 2025 Golden Eagle Field and Barrier Draw
The favourites have all fared well after the field and barrier draw was declared for the $10million Golden Eagle at Randwick this Saturday.
Famous Foal with Coolmore Stud Stakes Connections
The Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes this weekend is a race that has developed a deserved reputation as a sire making race and a foal image that arrived to the Breednet Foal Gallery on Monday is a colt with an undeniable connection to this pivotal race for the breeding industry.
Farnan Filly Wins by Four!
The Mulberry Racing colours were in the frame at Hawkesbury on Tuesday when the Brad Widdup trained Farnan filly Blue Eyed Brigid bolted in as a short priced favourite.