A change of race tactics has helped promising galloper Black Jet regain his best form and score his first Listed company win at Doomben on Saturday.
Black Jet ($3.60) made it two wins on end when he beat Betwhatyouwannabe ($9) by three quarters of a length with the same margin to Allknight Saint ($7) in the Tattersall’s Members’ Cup.
Trainer Liam Birchley said Black Jet had always shown ability and the stable took him to Melbourne last year where he raced without luck.
“Back up here he really needs a track like Eagle Farm to show his very best,” Birchley said.
“We made the mistake of trying to ride him like an Eagle Farm horse at Doomben – letting him drop out and run home.
“I admit it was a mistake. At his past two starts we have used Jeff Lloyd on him who is an experienced jockey who can get a horse to go from the start.”
He said it meant Black Jet had been able to race much closer to the pace at his past two starts.
“It is the way to win at Doomben and the change of tactics has really lifted him,” Birchley said.
“The two old greys Jeff and Black Jet have proved a winning combination.”
Black Jet has now won seven races and $197,000 in prize money which has left Birchley with a problem.
“He is going to get plenty of weight in an open handicap in Brisbane but I will have to see what else is available,” Birchley said.
Birchley, who had a double on Saturday, is having a great season and is third on the trainers’ premiership with 29 winners.
Michael Cahill said Bewhatyouwannabe had finished strongly but the winner had kicked too well while trainer Brad Herne said Allknight Saint would now spell and be brought back for a winter campaign.
