In Brief
- Johnstone making his mark
- Second double in a week.
- Shamus Eagle defies pre-race antics.
Apprentice jockey Jabez Johnstone continued on his winning way in Hobart on Sunday, with Alpine Kate ($3.00) storming down the outside to win the 2100m Maiden/Class 1, hitting the front in the shadows of the post to grab Ibutho ($11) and Bulbuk ($14).
Johnstone rode a winning double on Hobart Cup Day and is eating into his 3kg claim after just a few months of riding.
Alpine Kate sat three wide with cover for the trip and made it two wins from 14 lifetime starts.
“She laid out really bad coming up the straight, nearly ended up on the outside fence, but she kept finding, so we kept going. It was a huge win,” the young rider said after dismounting.
John Keys took over the training of Alpine Kate late last year and said the 5yo, who was having just her third start for her new stable, is enjoying being trained at Seven Mile Beach.
Johnstone continued his winning run when Make A Decision, despite jumping in the air and missing the start, stormed home along the rails to win the 1100m BM76 Hcp downing tear away leader Etosha ($4) with Geegee Jet By ($5) third.
Make A Decision was well backed ($6.00 – $4.80), but punters may well have torn up their tickets after the start of the race.
“I never planned to back him up today, but he got home and felt good. I had a gut feeling, and the result is there,” trainer Sarah Cotton said.
“Everyone knows he’s got ability; he just does a lot of stuff wrong. He jumped up at the start but that’s the Make A Decision we’ve got.”
Despite his early antics, Johnstone remained confident he could win.
“He came out of the barriers and jumped up, and I thought, ‘ Oh no, but coming to the home corner, I knew we would win,’” Johnstone said.
Eagle lands at odds
Shamus Eagle tossed a lot of pointers out of the quaddie, winning the first leg at $18 after a perfect ride by apprentice Chloe Wells.
From barrier one, Wells had Shamus Eagle in third spot and went around only one horse, the leader Rolling In It ($4) who battled on for second with Whisper Of Matilda ($8) third.
Shamus Eagle had just one placing from his previous 13 starts but racing first-up since September, proved too slick despite a mishap in the mounting yard.
“Yeah, he had the blinkers, the bridle, he had everything off, he can be a bit naughty in the mounting yard and that’s why I wanted him led (by the clerk of the course). He’s a beautiful horse to ride but just naughty in the mounting yard,” trainer Peter Luttrell said.
“I thought he would run a good race; I just thought he might need the run being first-up. He’s had a few back issues, and the vets have been treating him, and we got the result today.”
Manhattan Nights was solidly backed late in betting ($3.30) but only plodded into fifth place.