Unfortunately for recently-licensed owner-trainer Melissa Freitag of Moorak it was a case of being unable to attend last Thursday’s time-graded meeting at Tara Raceway where Betty’s Entity was having her first start for her new trainer.
Standing in for Freitag, who took over the training of the black bitch in December, was partner Jason Newman, purchaser of the daughter of Barcia Bale for $1500 after she had won her maiden at Tara Raceway in November.
Lining up in box four in the South Eastern Hotel Stake (400 m), Betty’s Entity quickly wrested the lead from Cee Magic before racing away to a 5½ lengths win over Tyrone Bale in an equal best of the day 23.36 seconds.
And while this had been Freitag’s first win as a trainer, it certainly hadn’t been all plain sailing for the 31-year-old.
“Not long after I took over her training she injured herself when paddock galloping and that set her back for a couple of months,” she said. “But when she did return to the track we were more than happy with the way she was trialling. And, I have to say, even happier with Thursday’s result.”
Betty’s Entity’s dam, Lola’s Entity, raced on only 17 occasions, winning a semi-final of the 2015 GRV VBIS Maiden (525 m) at The Meadows and then running third in the Group 3 final.
Training honours for last Thursday were shared by Tracie Price (Compton Lucy, See Me Socks), Phil Lenehan (Lektra Logic, Mister Mac) and Kevin Ward (Tigers Nineteen, Pull Shot).
City-winning stayer Bekim Lucy’s litter by Spring Gun produced two winners (Compton Lucy, King Smiley) as did 20-race winner Don’s Fantasy’s litter by Go Wild Jack (Jack’s Fantasy, Pull Shot).