Coop’N’Demp and apprentice Matthew Powell (second from left) teamed up to win the Romantic Dream 2YO Plate at Tamworth for David Hatch yesterday. Photo: Rob Chappel 240912RCD01
DAVID Hatch celebrated his first Romantic Dream 2YO Plate success when Coop’N’Demp hung on to win the 1000m juvenile scamper at Tamworth yesterday.
The first two-year-old race of the new season, sponsored by Tamworth Jockey Club’s new saddle cloth sponsor, Hygain, was a narrow victory for the local filly trained by Hatch, a Tamworth farrier.
The daughter of Enemy Of Average was having her first race start after trialling solidly behind Brookton Tiara at Tamworth.
Race favourite Dropper Crystal (7-4) led from the jump, with 40-1 chance Coop’N’Demp chasing and apprentice Matthew Powell allowing the filly to balance in the straight before issuing his challenge.
Coop’N’Demp bested the favourite and looked set for a good win until Neil Godbolt’s Don’t Mean Maybe (9-1) finished powerfully.
Tamworth’s finishing angle had some convinced the coastal juvenile had won another Romantic Dream 2YO Plate for Godbolt but the official finishing margins showed a half head verdict for Coop’N’Demp.
“I couldn’t tell,” Hatch said.
“She trialled well here,” he said of the dashing debutante.
“She jumped out and led in a trial won by Brookton Tiara.
“Matty took hold and didn’t knock her around over the last 600m.
“She’s worked well and been going really good.”
He said he had a few problems with her early “but nothing major”.
“She’s only going to get better but she’s going for a spell now,” he said.
Hatch trains the filly for former Tamworthian, Kris Thomas.
“He’s up in Queensland,” he said of Thomas.
“He’s had a few horses with Lesley (Jeffriess) and raced My Amalfi with me last year.
“She won her first race with me.
“I’ve only had the two horses with Kris and they’ve both won first up for me!”
Hatch has eight horses in work at his Tamworth stable, the biggest number he has worked with.
“Mark (his son) deserves a lot of the credit – he’s done most of the work with her,” he said of his son who also bought Coop’N’Demp for him at a Dubbo sale for under $5000.
Hatch usually “mucks around” with “five or six at the most”.
“Things are looking good though,” he said.