The Mitch Chapple-trained $2 favourite, a last-start Newcastle winner, was taken to the lead from gate seven by Guy Chapple and was never threatened.

The Captaintreacherous filly was given full rein at the top of the straight and sprinted clear for an 18m win in 1:57:8 to make the $100,000 final on March 28.

Meanwhile, Maitland trainer-driver Peter Hedges was not even considering a trip to Bathurst with Jackomondo a month ago.

Now Hedges believes the rapidly improving gelding can make the group 1 Gold Crown (1730m) final with a bit of luck on Friday night.

Jackomondo and another Maitland-trained pacer, Rodney Atkins' Sunshine Pepper, will race in heat three of six for a spot in the group 1 championship for two-year-old colts and geldings. The six winners of the $10,000 qualifiers and four fastest seconds will make the $100,000 decider on March 28.

At his only start, Jackomondo enjoyed an ideal run behind the leader at Newcastle on March 6 before finishing strongly to edge out Sunshine Pepper by a 1.4 metres over the mile in two minutes even.

The Somebeachsomewhere gelding faces a far tougher task at Bathurst, where he will start on the inside of the second line in a field featuring group 2 Sapling Stakes runner-up Lochinvar Chief. Lake Macquarie businessman Kevin Gordon owns Lochinvar Chief and star four-year-old Lochinvar Art.

The David Moran-trained Lochinvar Chief has gate seven, while Sunshine Pepper is in five.

Hedges said Lochinvar Chief looked hard to beat but he believed Jackomondo had proven he was worth a shot.

"We got him off the owners just before Christmas but it's been only the past two months that he's jumped out of the ground," Hedges said.

"This wasn't even on the radar probably a month ago, but he's improved so much the past six weeks that we thought he'd be a chance.

"His work has been good since he won, so he's peaking at the right time as well."

He was hoping for a good run from the Bernie Hewitt-trained Shifty Nicolosi in gate one to take Jackomondo into the race.

"He's drawn a little bit awkward but the one we follow out went pretty good at its first start so it mightn't be as bad as it looks," he said.

"[Shifty Nicolosi] will probably be crossed by Lochinvar Chief and maybe one other. If we are three fence, we've got to be a bit of a chance to be around the money. But it will be pretty hard to beat the Lochinvar horse, he's pretty smart."

Hedges will also drive Samuel John in heat one for trainer Dean Ingold, who is based at Reedy Creek, near Singleton.

"He's only had one start as well, but he's improving all the time too," Hedges said.

Ellalong trainer-driver Michael Formosa has Sneaky Peak in heat two with Guy Chapple aboard.

Chapple is also driving the Barry Matterson-trained Three In Heaven in heat six.