Promising four year old Surprise Bullet has broken a run of seconds to give Queensland its first win of the Origin Jockeys Series at Doomben.
The series is being run over five heats on Friday and Saturday and at the end of the first day the New Zealand pair, Damian Browne and Jason Collett, lead on 12 points from Tasmania on 11.
Queensland and Victoria were on 10 with NSW and South Australia on seven.
Surprise Bullet had run second at his previous four starts before a spell.
At one stage it looked as though he may not start in teh Class One (1350m) after he proved stubborn to load into the barriers.
But the barrier attendants’ hard work paid off and he Surprise Bullet ($3.50) charged home to win the second heat under Matt McGillivray who was all smiles after the win.
Trainer Barry Lockwood breathed a sigh of relief after Surprise Bullet won his second race.
“We thought enough of him to run him in the Group One Spring Champion Stakes. He hasn’t had a lot of luck and we will get him out in distance,” Lockwood said.
The first heat went to defending champions Victoria when Brett Prebble produced a daring ride to win on Lucky Captain ($8) in a Class Two Plate (2240m).
Prebble whipped around the field and pounced on the leaders while the favourite Korodon ($2.15) was looking for a rails run.
“It was a good win and he had them covered at the 250 metres,” Prebble said.
The final heat was won by Cabin Fever ($14) for Craig Newitt and Tasmania and lifted the state into second spot.
“The key was to get her back to her right distance,” co-trainer Ben Rodgers said.
