The Damian Lane prepared Pirate Ben headed to the Armidale race track on Monday, March 16 in a maiden plate over 1400 m with Roy L McCabe jumping from barrier two in a field of nine.
As the gates sprung back it was Pirate Ben which was fast into stride Cedee Prince was out in a forward position with Real Oak settling in third as the race favourite Play My Hand sat fourth as the field passed the rise with 1000m to go.
Rounding the turn Pirate Ben was clearing out on the field and on straightening had put a couple on the rest of the field, with Cedee Prince, Real Oak, Smooth Moving Mama, Play My Hand, and Little Hulla all trying to sort out the minor ends of the prize because Pirate Ben was off and gone to land the prize by 5.0 lengths to Real Oak in second and Cedee Prince in third in a race time of 1:23.18 with the last 600m in 36.69.
Congratulations to connections Mr E Hirsch & Mrs M Hirsch on a dominant display at Armidale.