Hyped as the next big thing in Hong Kong sprinting after winning his first two starts last year in brilliant fashion, Nervous Witness was beaten at his next three starts when only placing, but bounced back in style at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
The four year-old Star Witness gelding produced a scintillating run for Zac Purton to win the Class Three sprint over 1000m by more than three lengths in a slick 56.24 seconds.
“He won it at the start. He was brilliant out of the gates tonight, he just travelled on the bit and was full of confidence from the get-go – he loves it when it’s like that, so it was good to see him bounce back and do what he did,” Purton said.
“He finished off well, but he’s always vulnerable late. He’s such a tense horse in the run, he never switches off and gives himself that chance to be strong late but that’s him.”
Trainer David Hayes has always had a big opinion of Nervous Witness, who will no doubt take plenty of confidence from this win.
A $110,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Southern Cross Breeders draft, Nervous Witness is the second winner from Hadiklaim, a metro winner by War Pass (USA) that goes back to a US Black Type family.
Nervous Witness was the second smart winner on Wednesday for Star Witness, whose promising three year-old Jester also saluted at Sandown for the Chris Waller stable.
Jester has two wins and a second from three starts with winning rider Craig Williams optimistic better wins are ahead for the handsome chestnut.
A $200,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Hawkes Racing from the Longwood Thoroughbred Farm draft, Jester runs for Tora Racing and is the second winner from Fiery Jest, a winning half-sister by Testa Rossa to stakes-winner Spanish Bay from the family of Group I winner Khaptingly.
Star Witness covered 118 mares last spring at a fee of $16,500 in his first season since switching to Widden Stud Victoria.
