'Monster-sized' two-year-old impresses

SATURDAY night's two-year-old event at Club Menangle shapes as an intriguing affair.

A field of 10 will clash over 1609 metres, with six last start winners in the field.

Of the sextet. four are debutante winners, scoring in Penrith, Wagga and Menangle.

Making his debut in Wagga a fortnight ago, Hollywood Strip was an ultra-impressive performer for astute trainer Brad Hewitt.

Initially crossed from the pole, Hollywood Strip was sent forward to find the lead before trouncing his closest rival by 16-and-a-half metres in 1:54.1 over 1740 metres.

"I've got a pretty good opinion of him and was very happy with the way he went first-up," Hewitt said. "He is a really nice pacer, gets over the ground well and has good speed.

"He's a monster of a horse, about 17 hands, so he has done a good job to get to the races as a two-year-old really.

"I reckon he's going to make a nice horse, especially in another six or so months."

As for his pending assignment, Hollywood Strip has fared best among the sextet in barrier three.

"The draw isn't too bad," Hewitt said. "If anything, the race will be a good gauge to where he is at as there are a couple of nice ones in there.

"If he does well on the weekend, and over the next couple of weeks, I will push on to the Breeders' Challenge, then he'll go for a break."