Trainer Mick Bell’s horse of a lifetime, Jungle Edge, has received the wet conditions he relishes and made them count at Sandown.
Bell had planned to give seven-year-old Jungle Edge a break after his last-start win in the Group Three Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Sandown two weeks ago but he changed his mind when rain was forecast for this weekend.
The track was heavy by the time of Saturday’s Le Pine Funerals Handicap (1000m) and the proven wet-tracker kicked away in the final 200m under apprentice Georgina Cartwright to win by 2-1/2 lengths.
It took the $2.40 favourite’s record to 13 wins from 46 starts.
“He’s the horse of a lifetime,” Cranbourne-based Bell said.
“It doesn’t matter what sort of ground it is. He just doesn’t like hard tracks.
“I really think he should have nearly won the (Group One) Moir Stakes (in September when he finished eighth). He should have definitely run a place and they were the best sprinters in the country at the time.
“It’s humbling this horse is that good to us.”
Thermal Current ran home for second while Gun Case, who challenged Jungle Edge in the straight, was another three quarters of a length away.
Jungle Edge has six wins from 12 on heavy tracks while his other seven wins have been on soft tracks.
He has placed three times at Group One level this year on heavy tracks.
Bell indicated Jungle Edge could run again in a 1200m sprint on Pakenham Cup day next Saturday “but he would have to pull up fantastic”.
Kevin Forrester is Jungle Edge’s usual rider but because the gelding had 62kg, connections called on an apprentice to claim 3kg.
The win was special for Cartwright, 24, who claimed her first city win.
