Glenn Davis    October 2   2012

 Promising filly Hold Me Tight delivered on her early promise and booked a long range Queensland Oaks campaign next year with an impressive victory at Doomben on Monday.

Ridden by Chris Munce, Hold Me Tight stormed home for a convincing 1-1/4 length win in the Hidden Dragon@Lyndhurst Maiden Handicap (1350m).

The daughter of Refuse To Bend finished second over 1200 metres at her first start at Eagle Farm in August and was placed at her only other outing over the same trip at Eagle Farm a fortnight later.

Hold Me Tight was bred by Brisbane Racing Club chairman Bill Sexton who raced her mother Never Let Go.

Never Let Go was considered too highly strung to be a racing proposition and was retired early by Sexton after starting only three times in 2008.

"I trained her mother, Never Let Go, but she only had a few starts before Bill decided to retire her because she was so highly strung," Baldwin said.

"Never Let Go only had three runs but she managed to win a maiden at the Gold Coast."

Baldwin was confident Hold Me Tight would win at her first attempt past 1200 metres but admitted he had a few moments of concern in the middle stages.

"We thought she could win this race but I was worried at the 600 metres," he said.

"She was going nowhere until Chris (Munce) pulled her to the outside and she got home very strongly and won going away.

"We've got a good opinion of her but she's going for a spell now.

"We've mapped out an ambitious program and will aim her for the Queensland Oaks next year.

"After this win we now feel a little justified."

Baldwin and Sexton's friendship goes back many years.

"I've been training for Bill since the 1980's," Baldwin said.

"Actually he and I combined to win the last Golden Nugget at the Gold Coast in  1992 with Belaya when she was ridden by Graham Cook."

   HOLD ME TIGHT:

   AGE:   3yo                   SEX: f                        COLOUR:     b                       PRIZE:           $29,900

   SIRE:    Refuse To Bend (IRE)             DAM:   Never Let Go (by Beautiful Crown (USA)) 

   Trainer:  B S Baldwin at Eagle Farm

   Colours:  White, black stripes              

   Owners:  W J Sexton, Mrs P M Sexton, T A Sexton, Ms C L Sexton & Ms E K Sexton

   WINS:  1 (1350m)