"Only just!"
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That's how Parkes trainer-driver William Cassell described his win on three-year-old filly Lou Cee ($23) at the Parkes Harness Racing Club on Saturday night.
It wasn't just any old race either, the roughie took out the first heat of the Club Dubbo Golden Gig Series, booking herself a spot in the $9500 final in Dubbo on December 17.
Cassell said the Sportswriter filly, who is trained by his father Andrew and is owned and bred by Parkes Harness Racing Club president Geoff Cole, is now a more mature horse.
"She's really happy at the moment and calm," he said.
"She's also a bit more race savvy even though she's still only three."
It's the third win in the filly's 29 race career, and yet again she was at exceptionally generous odds, getting as high as $19 despite the good draw in Barrier 2.
That's just the way Cassell likes it though - being on a roughie on his home track.
"She knows how to stick on," he said of Lou Cee after the race.
"She's always an outsider, but we love that.
"I'd rather be on an outsider than a favourite!" said Cassell.
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Good speed from Ideal Denny ($14) and Kalypso Sam ($6) when the arms folded back made Cassell work very hard to hold his spot on the pegs, but indeed he did - and it took a very gutsy effort to take the chocolates in this open heat.
They were seven-wide at the top of the straight, and despite a powerful late run by Rusty Mccool ($4) to finish second, Lou Cee held on to win by a nostril in a swift 1:59.2, with Ideal Denny a further length back in third.
Stewards scrutinised the run home given the wall of horses and small winning margin but it was a mightly impressive win for Cassell and Lou Cee, who will now look to attack what is sure to be a wide open final on December 17.
"I was a little bit worried at the top of the straight, but was happy to run anywhere and just get into the final really," said a relieved Cassell after the race.
"It's gonna be an open race, so I'm feeling pretty good about it."
It was Cassell's first of two winning drives for the night.
He teamed up again with owner-breeder Cole to drive Mighty Joe ($11) home for popular Grenfell trainer Mark Hewitt, after a confident performance in the gig mowed down the front-running Karloo Bradley ($12) in the shadows of the post.
It's another little purple patch (pun intended) for Hewitt's four-year-old gelding, who has now won three of his past six starts - which were on the back of two very impressive second placings at Young and Parkes.
In the other Club Dubbo Gig Series heat it was a barnstorming finish from Steve Jones aboard Why Not Surf ($8) that nabbed a 2.2 metre win over another Hewitt runner - the well-backed Rock Queen ($3).
The next two weeks will see meetings in Dubbo on December 10 and 17, with both cards full of feature heats and finals. It's sure to see some exciting racing, so make sure to tune in and see Parkes runners ply their trade.
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