ALL THAT GLITTERS IS "GOLD"

SUNDAY: December 8, 2024: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!

That’s the thinking of Hawkesbury trainer Mike Van Gestel with yesterday’s impressive Newcastle winner Dark Glitter.

A homebred, four-year-old mare Dark Glitter ($2.90 favorite) gave her rivals a start and a beating in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1250m).

Ridden by apprentice Olivia Chambers, Dark Glitter settled last before powering down the extreme outside in the straight (the rail was 10m out) to easily defeat Kembla Grange-trained Mr Rock It ($6) to post her fourth victory.

Van Gestel did not begin Dark Glitter’s career until January this year when the daughter of Spieth and Berning Affair became an instant winner in a Maiden Plate (1000m) at Canberra.

He had three cracks at unsuccessfully trying to qualify her for the $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick in April, starting her in heats at Hawkesbury and Newcastle along with the Wild Card at Newcastle.

“I don’t think we’ll be having another try next autumn; it’s a hard to race in which to qualify let alone win,” Van Gestel said today.

“Dark Glitter is in great form since beginning another preparation, running second at her first three starts before winning yesterday.

“As she has had 18 starts and is getting close to the PMC borderline of 20 starts, I think it’s best to keep going with her and see if we can win another couple whilst she is going so well.

“Dark Glitter still hasn’t fully matured, and still has a bit to learn,” Van Gestel said.

“But she has a good turn of foot as she showed at Newcastle.”

Van Gestel took great heart from Dark Glitter’s resumption performance at Newcastle on November 2 to look forward to a successful campaign with her.

“She came from last in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (900m) that day to be narrowly beaten (by Zoe Shark) and broke 32 seconds for her last 600m,” he explained.

“Dark Glitter was clocked to run 31.69s, which was faster than Private Harry’s 32.17s when he won the previous race that day having his first start.

“Before winning at Newcastle, she ran second to Private Harry in a Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m) at Hawkesbury on November 21.

“Whilst she was beaten easily that day, she nearly fell on the home turn and the winner was off and gone by the time she got going.”