After a career spanning almost 40 years, journeyman jockey Kevin Forrester returned home to land the Ballarat Cup aboard Mujadale.
The 53-year-old Forrester relocated to his hometown of Ballarat four months ago after riding the length and breadth of Australia as well as overseas.
Mujadale, Kevin Forrester – Photo by Sharon Chapman
In a well-judged front-running ride, Mujadale scored a 3-1/4 length win over At First Sight with Fat Al a short-head away third.
But it cost him a decent slice of his winning percentage with stewards fining the veteran hoop $2000 for excessive use of the whip.
Forrester said he was surprised at how easy he had it in front as Mujadale recorded back-to-back Cup victories following his success in the Ararat Gold Cup on November 9.
He said the win meant a lot.
“Coming back I went and gave all the locals a high five with the whip,” Forrester said.
“I hope they’re all back next year. It’s a good turnout today.”
Forrester said he was on a fit racehorse which relaxed in the middle stages.
“I looked around four times down the back straight and thought `what are you blokes doing back there’,” Forrester said.
Trainer Paul Jones described Mujadale as a bit like the movie character Forrest Gump.
“You let him run and he enjoys it,” he said.
Jones decided to look at races towards the end of the spring carnival after Mujadale disappointed last year.
He will look to the Bagot Handicap at Flemington on January 1.
“Last year we had him ticking over at the peak of the spring and he found them just a bit too tough,” Jones said.
“He was also probably getting towards the end of his prep whereas this year we just aimed at the races a little bit later on like the Ballarat Cup and maybe the Bagot.
“Also the internationals, they’ve gone now also which makes it a little easier.”
Leading jockeys Dwayne Dunn and Craig Williams received minor suspensions out of the meeting and both are free to ride next Saturday.
