UNBEATEN two-year-old pacer Jerrys Jet stamped himself as a genuine star when he stormed home to win the $17,000 Big Park Stud Sweepstakes final for colts and geldings at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart on Sunday night.
It was one of the best performances seen on the Hobart circuit and clearly the best of his age group.
Jerrys Jet was worse than midfield in the three-wide train in the back straight the last time and he was still near last and five-wide turning for home.
The leader Mister Lennox (Gareth Rattray) kicked clear at the top of the straight and looked to have a winning break but Boasson Hagen and Jerrys Jet knuckled down to their task at the business end of the race.
Boasson Hagen (Christian Salter) began his move three-wide at the bell and he was responsible for keeping Jerrys Jet in a pocket when the favourite was trying to get into the three-wide line.
Boasson Hagen was first to issue a serious challenge to the leader in the straight and he looked set to win close to home until Jerrys Jet arrived on the scene to snatch victory in the very last stride.
Jerrys Jet (Jeremes Jet-Laagirl) is trained by Paul Hill and owned by his breeders Charlie and Connie Beadman.
He recorded a mile rate of 2m.00.94s for the 1609-metre journey but given where he came from to win his rate was exceptional.
The win kept Jerrys Jet’s unbeaten record from four starts intact and both trainer and owners were ecstatic after the race.
The gelding scored by a short half-head with Boasson Hagen and Mister Lennox dead-heating for second but a protest lodged by Salter claiming interference in the closing stages was upheld giving Boasson Hagen second place on his own.
Jerrys Jet will have a couple of days off and is likely to resume racing in a heat of the Dandy Patch sires stakes series in Hobart next month with the final on July 6.
Listen to what trainer Paul Hill and owner-breeder Charlie Beadman had to say about Jerrys Jet’s Sweepstakes win.