I’m Jake led home a quinella for the training combination of David Brideoake and David Feek in Saturday’s $100,000 Listed RM Ansett Classic at Mornington.
Beginning from barriers one and two respectively, I’m Jake and Dance With Her sprung the gates to lead the field passing the winning post the first time in the 2413m feature.
And that’s the way it stayed with I’m Jake quickening the tempo appreciably from the 600-metre mark to get his rivals off the bit chasing.
Expertly ridden by Ben Melham, I’m Jake ($4.80) defeated Dance With Her ($6) by 2-1/4 lengths with Our Serena ($15) a head away third.
“He’s a really good, strong staying horse and he can sustain an effort at the one pace for a long time,” Melham said.
“He’ll go up in class now and should be competitive.”
It remains to be see whether I’m Jake can reach the lofty heights of last year’s Ansett Classic winner Cedarberg, who went on to win the Group One BMW (2400m) in April.
However Feek said I’m Jake would head towards the $225,000 Group Three Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 19 in the hope of securing a berth in the Melbourne Cup.
“He will be better once he gets up to two miles (3200m) and is able to roll forward and make it a test of stamina,” Feek said.
Dance With Her will also continue racing over the spring carnival with the mare likely to have her 17th start this preparation in another black-type event.
This year’s renewal of the Ansett Classic was the first at Mornington since 2008 when The Yartz won for local trainer Jason Warren.
The meeting was abandoned due to wet weather in 2009 and last year’s edition was held at Sandown as the Mornington course proper was redeveloped.
Meanwhile, Doubtful Jack ended a five-start losing sequence by dropping back significantly in grade to win the $30,000 EJ & Nellie Anne Turner Handicap (1207m).
Trained by Peter Moody, Doubtful Jack ($1.50 fav) finished 14th in the Group Three Bobbie Lewis (1200m) when resuming from a 17-week spell last start.
However the five-year-old son of Not A Single Doubt, who won last year’s Listed Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Flemington by 6-1/2 lengths, bounced back brilliantly by defeating noted wet track performer Jungle Ruler ($6) by 1-1/4 lengths.
“It was a great win today, hopefully it will boost the confidence of the horse,” Moody’s stable foreman Tom Brideoake said before adding Doubtful Jack will have his next start in the Group Three Betfair Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 15.
Doubtful Jack brought up a double for Moody who earlier won with Beckon, a full-brother to Group One winner Headway.
AAP TURF
