Trainer Brian Smith needed only one sentence to sum up veteran Jetset Lad’s fighting win in the Listed Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Doomben on Saturday.
“Once a good horse, always a good horse,” Smith said about the former kiwi galloper who is rising eight years of age.
Jetset Lad
Jetset Lad won the Group Two Brisbane Cup over 2200m on June 6 and many expected the gelding to spell.
However, Smith brought Jetset Lad back to 1800m in a Listed race at the Gold Coast on June 20 and then got him ready for 1600m on Saturday.
Jetset Lad ($11) scored by a long head to Little Brown Horse ($11) with 1-1/4 lengths to Epic ($6) in third place.
Smith will take Jetset Lad to Sydney for the spring carnival with his main aim the Newcastle Cup (2300m) on September 17.
“The Newcastle Cup is the race I have had in mind for him all along,” Smith said.
“We both have a bit of age on us (trainer and horse) but he is all quality and like quality horses he is hard to beat in anything.”
Jetset Lad was originally trained by John Wheeler in New Zealand and made three visits to Queensland before being left with Smith at Eagle Farm in June last year.
The gelding won last year’s Tattersall’s Mile with 54kg but carried top weight of 58.5kg on Saturday.
Jetset Lad took his prize money over $610,000 with Saturday’s win and has now won three races for Smith.
Jockey Paul Hammersley, who returned to Queensland three months ago after a stint in NSW, is developing a great association with Jetset Lad.
“I won the Brisbane Cup on him as well and he is fast becoming my favourite horse,” Hammersley said.
“He tries so hard and he never gives up.”
Smith, who won his first major races in Brisbane 39 years ago with the great Balmerino in the Grand Prix-O’Shea Stakes and Brisbane Cup, will also take Kingdoms to Sydney this spring.
“I am very pleased with Kingdoms who will resume next week,” Smith said about the galloper who ran third in last year’s ATC Metropolitan.
Geoff Goold, who rode Little Brown Horse, said the mare had run her usual honest race after getting an inside run in the straight.
“The winner was just a shade too strong but he is a class horse,” Goold said.
Meanwhile, Feltre will get his chance in open company after winning the Des Lambart Memorial Handicap (1640m).
Owner-breeder Bill Andrews said Feltre ($4.20 favourite) had shown he could run a strong 1600m with his win.
“He copped a couple of checks and he was up in weight but he won very well. We will have to take on open company now but he should handle it without too much trouble,” Andrews said.
“He has had 12 starts and collected a cheque each time including six wins. You can’t ask for much more.”
