Desleigh Forster declared Chapter And Verse could be the best horse she has trained after the gelding came from near last to win the Group Three George Moore Stakes at Doomben.
In a thrilling finish which saw eight horses across the track in the final 100m, Chapter And Verse ($6.50) got up by a nose to Outback Barbie ($4.60) with a short neck to Boomsara ($15) in third place.
The Doomben track had been playing to leaders for most of the day but the first two placegetters came from well back in the field.
Forster won the George Moore Stakes in 2011 with Adebesi and has had six stakes winners since but she has a special spot for Chapter And Verse.
“What can I say other than he is a special horse. He is a good horse. I think he can be the best I have trained and I think he can win in even better company,” said Forster who was hoarse from screaming during the finish.
“Mark (jockey Du Plessis) knows exactly how to ride him. I was a bit worried when he got so far back but Mark got clear at the right time.”
Chapter And Verse will now head to the Magic Millions carnival where he is likely to tackle the Magic Millions Cup.
“Then we can start looking at the winter and even the spring,” she said.
Chapter And Verse has now won just short of $950,000 and there seems little doubt he can become Forster’s first million-dollar earner.
Trainer Tony Gollan was equally proud of Outback Barbie who was caught deep back in the field but hit the line hard.
“It was hard to tell if she had won or not. But it was a super effort,” he said.
Outback Barbie will head to the Gateway at Eagle Farm in a fortnight and if he wins she will avoid the ballot for the Group One Stradbroke Handicap in June.
Jockey Brad Stewart was confident Boomsara would have won had he not drawn the outside barrier.
One of the eye-catching runs of the race was veteran Crack Me Up who flashed home for fifth at his first run in a year.
