Last year, talented Hellbent gelding Fully Lit chased home Autumn Glow for second in the Group I ATC Epsom Handicap and this year he will be looking to go one better after scoring a bold front running win at Newcastle on Friday in the $250,000 Group III Cameron Handicap (1500m).
Third in this race last year, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained five year-old set the tempo in front for Regan Bayliss and was not for catching as he strode clear to win by more than a length over I’mintowin with race favourite Mr Miller a late closing third.
Regan Baylis was well pleased with Fully Lit, who will carry just 50kg in the Group I ATC Epsom next month.
"That was a peak performance from that horse today, he was just on song," Bayliss said.
"He has never jumped that good, took complete control of the race and quickened well in the straight.
"He has been an absolute beauty."
Fully Lit was a $60,000 Inglis Classic purchase for Red Fox Racing from the Glenlogan Park draft and has the overall record of four wins and five placings from 17 starts and over $2million in prizemoney proving a great investment for his big team of owners.
Bred by Glenlogan Park, Fully Lit is a half-brother to Group III winner The Novelist and smart metro winner Angel Ladder being the best of three foals to race that are all winners from good producer Sunlit.
A winning half-sister by Snitzel to Group II winner Vo Heart from the family of dual Group I winner Magical Miss, Sunlit has an unnamed 2YO colt by Zoustar, a yearling colt by I Am Invincible and is back in foal to him again.
Fully Lit is the third stakes-winner (one in NZ) of the new season for Hellbent, who stands this spring at Yarraman at a fee of $55,000.
