Trainer Matt Hoysted was visibly moved by stable star Uncommon James’s first win since taking out the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate more than three years ago.
“I’ll try not to get too emotional, this horse obviously means the world to our family,” Hoysted said.
“It’s been more than three years now since he last won and it helped today that he didn’t have to carry his Group 1 penalty.
“Credit to Ben (Thompson, jockey), it was a great ride. It looked tough when the barrier draw came out, but thankfully it worked out well for us today.”
Hoysted also revealed it was Thompson’s call to take the blinkers off Uncommon James for the Moreton Cup.
“I was a bit reluctant to take the blinkers off,” Hoysted said.
“He (Thompson) actually wanted them off after his first run. The horse has been racing really genuinely this ‘prep’ and we thought it was the right time to take them off. Luckily he was able to get the job done.”
Uncommon James was backed from $7 into $4.20 favouritism and landed the plunge when he edged out Oak Hill ($31) with Manaal ($7) failing to get clear galloping room in the straight before finishing a length away third.
The only downside for Uncommon James’s connections is the sprinter isn’t nominated for the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm next Saturday as the winner of the Moreton Cup is exempt from the Stradbroke ballot.
But this mattered little to Hoysted and Thompson as both men were delighted Uncommon James was finally back in the winner’s circle.
“He’s been such a good horse for such a long time, he’s very special to all of us,” Thompson said.
“He’s had his setbacks since he won the Oakleigh Plate which is why he’s been lightly raced for the last two years.
“But we knew the horse was going great. He had the track to suit and a race that was run to suit today, so it worked out perfectly.
“He owes us nothing, I’ll always have a soft spot for him and I’ll be forever in debt to him.”
