FELIX THE SCAT'S DOMINANT FIRST-UP WIN

By Graham Potter | Saturday, February 25, 2023

The Peter and Will Hulbert trained Felix The Scat demolished his rivals, turning in an ultra-convincing first-up performance when taking out a QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap over 1350m at Doomben on February 25.

The son of Mendelssohn had raced twice in his first preparation. After a trial win, Felix The Scat was one of the eleven runners who lined up for the first two-year-old race of the season ... the Pat O’Shea Plate at Toowoomba on September 24, 2022 ... in which he finished fifth, 3.60 lengths behind the winner Bedaub, after chasing from a wide number ten barrier draw over 1000m.

It was a 1000m again in his next start where the Hulbert team were confident enough to take Felix The Scat to town where he showed due improvement to finish third in a QTIS Two-Year-Old Plate on October 22 behind Mishani Renegade, who would frank that form by going on to win his next two starts as well.

Felix The Scat was then allowed just short of five months away from race action, before this first-up run at Doomben, where the distance test was stepped up to 1350m and where he had all the experience and expertise of Mark Du Plessis in the saddle to help offset the horses own relative inexperience.

The number one barrier draw was of no consequence as Du Plessis took Felix The Scat, the $3.50 favourite, back at the break, allowing the Hulbert trained runners to find his feet in his own time as he settled in second last place in the eight horse field, racing some five to six lengths off the speed as Storm Force Ten, the $3.90 second favourite, and the $31 outsider Saxon Brave took the field down the back straight and through the sweep to the home turn.

The field was starting to bunch up now though with Felix The Scat now starting to stretch out and close-up as Du Plessis angled Felix The Scat, who had up to then enjoyed an inside run, on an outward path approaching the turn. On the point of the turn Felix The Scat pushed his way into the clear, cornering four wide, but looking to be full of running fand ready for the chase home.

It certainly didn’t take long for Felix The Scat to assert his authority in no uncertain terms as Du Plessis drove his mount to the front as early as the 200m mark.

Du Plessis would have been please with what he saw when he stole a look over his shoulder at the 180m ... there was not a danger in sight ... before riding Felix The Scat out hands and heels.

Inside the last 50m Du Plessis had another quick look behind him and then allowed Felix The Scat to ease down slightly over the last couple of strides.

The first point of call is to win your race ... and, if you can do that, to win well.

Felix The Scat ticked both of those boxes here.

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