A stable favourite of Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra has broken through for her maiden victory at Flemington.
A two-year-old daughter of Zoustar, Jagar was lining up for her fourth start in Saturday’s Next Generation Sprinters Series final (1200m).
Pouncing on the lead inside the final 200m, Jagar ($9), under Damian Lane, raced to a three-quarter length win from Stalking ($8) with Regulus ($8) a head away third.
Zahra said the filly had been a stable favourite since entering their stable and was one of longtime stable client David Moodie’s top picks as a younger horse.
“She’s always shown us good ability,” Zahra said.
“We took her to The Valley first-up as a two-year-old and she got a bit lost, but you saw her with a good turn-of-foot today.
“It was a good ride from Damian, he was patient.
“He might have got a little but worried when Power Crunch got about eight (lengths) in front, but it was a nice sustained run and that’s the key with her.”
Zahra said he favoured sending the filly for a short break and then aim for something in the spring.
Lane was forced to change his opinion of the filly after initially thinking she lacked stamina.
He said Jagar was one of the Ellerton and Zahra-trained horses that he had done a lot of work with early in her career which had shown promise.
“She’s been one where I thought her stamina might let her down,” Lane said.
“She’s always been sharp over short trips in trials and I thought she may not be able to sustain the gallop, but ever since she’s stepped out this prep, she’s completely proven me wrong and I’m very happy to be wrong.”
