Salute To Jude won his way into Magic Millions Guineas calculations after winning the feature race at Flemington on Saturday.
Before his storming win in the $100,000 Fiesta Star Handicap (1200m), the son of Stratum was languishing at 39th in the order of entry for the $1 million race for three-year-olds.
A $125,000 purchase at last year’s Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling sale, Salute To Jude is now an $11 chance for the January 11 race.
“He wouldn’t have got a run before today’s performance so he needed some money, and more than that, he needed to justify the exercise,” trainer Robert Smerdon said.
Salute To Jude winning the Fiesta Star Handicap at Flemington ridden by Chad Schofield and trained by Robert Smerdon - (photo by Steven Dowden/Race Horse Photos Australia)
“It’s a long way to go just to get a kicking.
“I came here with reservations – I didn’t envisage that happening.”
Salute To Jude ($12), with top apprentice Chad Schofield taking over from the suspended Mark Zahra, motored away to win by 2-1/4 lengths from Innocent Hero ($11).
Mark Kavanagh’s Oltre Finito ($5) filled third place, another three quarters of a length away.
In the Bitalli Handicap (2540m), the Chris Waller-trained Instrumentalist, ridden by Damien Oliver, led from the 1200m to see off his rivals.
Carrying 60kg, it seemed inevitable that Instrumentalist ($6.50) would be swamped in the straight but he showed otherwise.
Waller’s Melbourne foreman Justine Hales praised Oliver’s ride.
“It wasn’t our plan to be where he was but they just went so slow he used his head and that’s the brilliance of having a jockey like him,” she said.
“They can get out there and think the race through and change tactics if they have to.”
Instrumentalist beat McNulty ($5) by a head with Suspended Gem ($11) a half head away third.
Hales said Instrumentalist will probably be a candidate for the Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day.
“On that run he should be able to get the distance easily,” she said.
