Deepwater Artist added another win to his record with a strong performance in the Bega Mower Center Class 1 Handicap at Sapphire Coast on Saturday, scoring by one and a half lengths, saluting in front of a massive crowd on Day 1 of the Sapphire Coast Carnival Meeting.

The gelding, by Trapeze Artist, was ridden by Billy Owen, who has now partnered him in four of his five career starts.

“There was a lot of speed inside us, so I had to do a bit of work early,” Owen said. “The leader dropped us at the top of the straight, but once he wound up, I thought he was always going to win.”

The victory takes Deepwater Artist’s prizemoney earnings to $40,000, a nice return for a horse purchased unraced as a three-year-old Gelding for $2,750 through Inglis Digital. He now holds a record of five starts for two wins and two second placings, proving a very nice buy for owners Peter and Rosemary Lewis.

Attention now turns to how far he can progress through the grades this preparation.

Bega Mower Center Class 1 - Owners & Sponsors.

Kelley Racing will field runners at Canberra this Friday before turning to Sydney on Saturday at Royal Randwick. One of those runners is Tarpaulin, who will have his second start for the stable in the same Lewis family colours.

Tarpaulin made a solid impression first up when finishing fourth, beaten 1.9 lengths, in a Benchmark 78 over 1100 metres on 17 January. After being tardy away, he closed strongly to record the second fastest last 600 metres of the meeting on a Heavy 8 surface. Jockey Alysha Collett was full of praise for the run. Tarpaulin will have his second start for the Kelley Stable in the Benchmark 78 over 1200 metres at Royal Randwick on Saturday 7 February.