Pregnant mare Jester’s Girl will head to stud a black-type winner courtesy of a boilover at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Trainer Gerald Ryan’s hit-and-run mission with Jester’s Girl ($41) paid off when she overhauled Bound To Blush ($4) in the last stride to win by a short half-head with the favourite Funtantes ($3.80) a head away third in a gripping three-way finish.
Eagle Farm trainer Brad Herne who saddled up Jester’s Girl said Ryan was confident Jester’s Girl could win despite some concerns about her ability to cope with the 1200 metres.
“He told me that she was flying in trackwork and her first-up form was really good,” Herne said.
“The goal today was to get some black type against her name because she’s in foal to Magic Albert and that will make her worth a lot more now.”
Legendary trainer Colin Hayes firmly believed mares often improved their form once they were in foal with Special and Mapperley Heights often cited as examples of his theory.
Jockey Paul Hammersley followed the instructions delivered to him by Ryan and was confident when the mare was travelling comfortably just behind the leaders.
It isn’t the first time Hammersley and Ryan have combined to win a feature race at Eagle Farm.
In 2002 Hammersley won his first Group One race for Ryan aboard another roughie, Mon Mekki in the Queensland Oaks, when she started a $51 outsider.
Jockey Damian Browne said Funtantes had cost herself victory by missing the start.
“She just dwelt when the gates opened and I had to use her up a bit more than I wanted mid-race to get into a reasonable position,” Browne said.
“The last 50 metres of the race just told on her because of the work she had to do early.”
