ONE of Tasmania’s star free-for-allers Our Sir Jeckyl delivered arguably one of his best performances to score a narrow but emphatic win in the Cannonball Charge (1609m) at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart last night (Sunday).
The Tony Petersen-trained gelding led the three-wide brigade for the last 1000 metres of the race in pursuit of race leader Thirsty Mach that set a sizzling pace, running his first half mile (800m) in a slick 57.2 seconds.
With such a brilliant first half and having the bulk of the field ahead of him in the run Our Sir Jeckyl had to deliver a sensational time to emerge triumphant.
He did it and with a bit in reserve. The gelding rattled off a last half (800m) of 56.55s for a mile rate of 1m.57.91.
The gelded son of Our Sir Vancelot was asked to make ground gradually by driver Ricky Duggan and when he called on the seven-year-old for the big effort at the top of the straight he quickly put six metres on his rivals.
Our Sir Jeckyl then had to dig deep to stave off the fast-finishing rank outsider Dodgermemate ($59) that enjoyed good cover in the race while Turnpike Cruiser ($10) also ran home well to grab third, just ahead of the luckless Saab Quality.
Our Sir Jeckyl will have his next start ion the Metropolitan Cup in Hobart in a fortnight before attempting to win his second Easter Cup in Launceston on April 8.