Heading into Saturday night’s Vicbred Super Series Finals night young reinswoman Jackie Barker was yet to taste Group 1 success in her 501-win career.
The 28-year-old Barker left the course a dual Group 1 winner!
Barker broke her Group 1 maiden status when she partnered Miki To Success to victory in the Art Major $100,000 Vicbred Super Series (3YO Colts & Geldings) Final.
Barker gave the Emma Stewart trained Miki To Success the run of the race in the one out one back trail however the leader and stable mate Some American appeared set for victory on turning for home.
Once wound up, Miki To Success ($16) unleashed a powerful finishing burst to grab the lead over the concluding stages to score running away in a slick mile rate of 1:52.9.
The 28-year-old Barker was ecstatic after the race.
“I’m over the moon, it’s unbelievable,” Barker said.
Barker admitted the winner can provide a challenge to drive at times.
“He’s a bit of a tricky fella but you can tell just looking at him that he’s a lovely horse, once he switches on and gets his mind on the job he is going to be something special,” she said.
“It just makes all those scary times worth it tonight.”
Barker said Miki To Success is an emerging stayer.
“He is a bit arrogant in a lot of ways, around the turn he was flat and chasing but he just keeps coming,” she said.
“Every run he feels gone but he keeps coming and he just came past them tonight.”
Barker recently drove her 500th career winner and is enjoying her best season in the sulky.
“It’s been a really good season for me and I’ve been lucky and this is just the icing on the cake,” she said.
Half an hour later Barker chalked up her second Group 1 success when piloted the Stewart prepared Ivseenheavenslight to victory in the Captain Crunch Vicbred Super Series (2YO Fillies) Final.
Ivseenheavenslight worked to the lead inside the first 400 metres however Barker was content to surrender the front running to stable mate Miss Australiana after a 57.2 first half of the last mile.
Barker eased her charge out around the home and the daughter of Bettors Delight held off her stable mate the $2.50 favorite Let Her Roll by a metre in a mile rate of 1:54.7.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling and I’m certainly not going to forget it forever,” Barker said as she came back with her second Group 1 win within the space of 30 minutes.
Despite her $14 starting price, Barker said the stable was confident of her winning chances.
“Clayton (Tonkin) was really confident going into this race as she’s been really good through the heats and the semis,” she said.
“She hasn’t had to do too much work in them which has probably helped her tonight as she ran a really strong race after copping a bit of pressure and doing a bit of work.”
Barker said she weighed up whether or not to hand up the lead with a lap to travel.
“I knew Miss Australiana was doing a lot of work and that I was doing a lot of work, it was one of those decisions that you’ve got to make and hope for the best,” she said.
“Luckily I as was able to come off in time and she really rallied up the straight and it was a top run from her.”
The win also provided Aaron Bain Racing P/L Summit Bloodstock P/L with a winning double after Heza Punk Rocker took out the Ride High Vicbred Super Series (4YO Entires & Geldings) Final in the opening event.
