The best trainers and drivers take learnings from defeat and Nathan Jack certainly utilised his in claiming victory in the $175,000 Alabar Bloodstock Nutrien Equine Classic (2YO Colts and Geldings) Final at Lord’s Raceway, Bendigo.
The Bigboss led and was run down by Bay Of Biscay during his heat last week, but the star reinsman made a slight tweak to his tactics and it paid dividends as the top juvenile crushed his much-hyped rival by 17.2m on Friday night.
In the qualifier, The Bigboss clocked opening quarters of 33.2 and 31.1, but was out-dashed by Emma Stewart’s colt in closing sections of 27.4 and 26.8.
In the final, Jack took a different approach. He found the front easily from wide on the front row, but got rolling earlier with his charge and ensured that Bay Of Biscay, who drew awkwardly in gate eight, was always chasing.
The Bigboss carved out a 28.1 second quarter and then closed off in 27.3 and 28.1 to win in a mile rate of 1:54.0.
While it was there for everyone to see, the Lemnos trainer-driver played down his role in the result.
“I think anyone could have just went out there and went as fast as they could for as far as they could so I can’t sort of take much credit there, but it’s a big credit to all the team at home,” he said.
Jack said he had always liked the look of The Bigboss, who was a $75,000 purchase from the Nutrien sales.
“He was just a great looking horse and he was a Bettors (Delight). He was very fat at the time, but he was just a great looking horse and he caught our eye,” Jack said.
“Don’t worry, he hasn’t been easy. He’s been hard to get going and he was hard to get gaited, but the penny’s dropping now.
“Josh Turnbull broke him in and gave him his first prep, and then he came to me. He did a lot more galloping than pacing for a long time.”
The Bigboss now has three wins for prizemoney earnings just shy of $100,000.
Rickie Alchin’s star Lux Aeterna stretched her unbeaten record to five starts with a demolition job in the Nutrien Equine Classic (2YO Fillies) Final, as did Stewart’s Sweet Bella in the Woodlands Nutrien Equine Classic (3YO Fillies) Final for Mark Pitt.
The night’s other feature pace went to David Moran’s Captain Hammerhead, who used gate one to full advantage in the Alabar Bloodstock Nutrien Equine Classic (3YO Colts and Geldings) Final.
He led and held off the late challenge from Shane Sanderson’s Dangerous, who charged home from three back along the pegs for second.
NUTRIEN EQUINE CLASSIC
PACING FINAL WINNERS
$175,000 NUTRIEN EQUINE CLASSIC (2YO FILLIES) FINAL
LUX AETERNA (Rickie Alchin/Rickie Alchin)
BAY FILLY 2 by CAPTAINTREACHEROUS (US) out of THE ARCH NEMESIS (JEREMES JET USA)
Owner(s): Alf La Spina Pty Ltd, as trustee for Alf La Spina Family Trust
Breeder(s): Brooklyn Lodge Aberdeen Pty Ltd, Alf La Spina Pty Ltd, as trustee for Alf La Spina Family Trust
$100,000 WOODLANDS NUTRIEN EQUINE CLASSIC (3YO FILLIES) FINAL
SWEET BELLA (Emma Stewart/Mark Pitt)
BAY/BROWN FILLY 3 by SWEET LOU USA out of ILLAWONG BELLA (BETTORS DELIGHT USA)
Owner(s): B C Edward, V A Edward
Breeder(s): M L Hartnett, K P Hartnett
$175,000 ALABAR BLOODSTOCK NUTRIEN EQUINE CLASSIC (2YO COLTS & GELDINGS) FINAL
THE BIGBOSS (Nathan Jack/Nathan Jack)
BAY COLT 2 by BETTORS DELIGHT USA out of GENTLE ANVIL NZ (CHRISTIAN CULLEN NZ)
Owner(s): Boots Properties Racing Pty Ltd, Sandy Lodge
Breeder(s): Croon Bloodstock Ltd
$100,000 ALABAR BLOODSTOCK NUTRIEN EQUINE CLASSIC (3YO COLTS & GELDINGS) FINAL
CAPTAIN HAMMERHEAD (David Moran/David Moran)
BAY COLT 3 by CAPTAINTREACHEROUS (US) out of ROGERS PASSION (ART MAJOR USA)
Owner(s): D J (Domenic) Martello
Breeder(s): Roger Bazley Syndicate
