Bruce Hill is still hoping Startsmeup could be the horse to give the Gold Coast trainer his first Group One winner following his explosive win at Doomben on Saturday.
Ridden by Melbourne apprentice Jarrod Fry, who is on a three-month stint in Queensland, Startsmeup pounced on the leaders halfway down the straight to down Tierqualo by 1-1/4 lengths in the Ownit Homes Handicap (1350m).
Kryptelon filled the minor placing only a half-head away.
Hill, who won this month’s Listed Grafton Cup with Warrior Within, is hopeful Startsmeup can measure up to Group One company in Melbourne during the spring.
But first he plans to test the waters with the son of Danzero in Sydney for a short campaign and would not rule out the Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick in October.
“I’m going to sit down and work out a plan of attack,” Hill said.
“I don’t want to kill him too soon in his campaign but I’ll probably give him his next run over 1400 metres in Sydney and then another one over 1600 metres.
“After that he’ll go on to Melbourne for some of the better races over 1600 metres like the (Group One) Toorak Handicap.”
Hill has always had a big opinion of Startsmeup who was sent to Melbourne in the autumn but could manage only 10th to Shamrocker in the Group One Australian Guineas at Flemington.
“He’s going terrific this campaign,” Hill said.
“I thought he ran a great race when he ran second first-up at Doomben last start when he was only half-ready.
“This horse had never had a decent spell until I took him away last spring when I left him down there with a mate of mine for a seven-week spell.”
Earlier, the win from underrated sprinter Joint Chiefs in the Optimum Recruitment Handicap (1200m) had a special meaning for trainer Brian Wakefield.
Joint Chiefs, having his second start this campaign, finished strongly to edge out What Happenedhenry by a neck with Purettan only a long head away third in a blanket finish.
“It was my Dad’s 73rd birthday on Wednesday and it’s nice to win a race for him,” Wakefield said.
“Dad hasn’t been in the best of health lately and hopefully this win will help pick him up a bit.
“It’s very thrilling to see this horse win as he’s been a very good horse to me.”
Apprentice Ben Looker followed Wakefield’s riding instructions to the letter when he managed to keep the five-year-old on the outside of the field.
“He’s the type of horse who has to be kept out wide so he can stretch out,” Wakefield said.
“He doesn’t like being cramped for room on the inside.
“Ben rode him exactly how I asked him. The horse is now in open company but I’m not sure where he’ll run next.”
AAP TURF
