A potential star of the Spring was unveiled at Flemington on Saturday with the Peter Moody-trained Doubtful Jack scoring an easy victory in the Listed $200,000 VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series Final (1600m).
Winner of his last three starts, the three-year-old gelding outclassed his rivals with a six and a half length win piloted by leading metropolitan jockey Luke Nolen.
“I think he's booked himself a Spring Carnival. I couldn't be more impressed with his last three,” an elated Moody said.
“I wasn't surprise, I have always thought he had ability but the leap he's made in the last six weeks has been phenomenal. He's been doing it comfortably and it seems so effortless and since he stepped out at the 1400 and the mile today, it's been a great transition.
“His only two disappointing runs have been Sydney and the Gold Coast racing in the other direction, so he's matured nicely off that summer break and he's come back a much better horse and that form is good enough to win a nice race in the Spring. If he improves again he might win a good race in the Spring!”
Moody is yet to decide which race he will contest during the Carnival but is excited about Doubtful Jack's future.
“My initial thought was that this type of horse could tackle the early weight-for-age races when the other horses aren't up to the mark but he might need a bit more of a break and be able to race in the Toorak or something because if you have a race like that not far off the winter break anything that goes near that sort of performance is going to win it, isn't it?”
Moody, who has the Metropolitan Trainers' Premiership all but sewn up, combined with Nolen again to take out the $150,000 All Victorian Sprinters Series Final (1200m) with Elumino.
“It was a good win. Unfortunately it wasn't a black type race but that's where she's got to go now. She's got to chase those Listed or Group 3 mares (races),” said Moody.
“She enjoys those three to four week breaks between her runs and she's probably going to have a crack at a race like the Cockram (Stakes) in early Spring and when the top mares get going she'll have a little break and maybe on the back end of Spring she'll have another crack at the black type races.”
Meanwhile, the Brian Jenkins-trained Figure Of Speech claimed the $150,000 Banjo Paterson Series Final (2500m) for the second consecutive year.
“This was his target this year, all the way through and it's the first time I've backed him up in seven days this prep and it seems to have worked,” said Jenkins.
Danny Nikolic, who piloted the eight-year-old gelding to a one length victory said, “Brian had been a little worried that he'd been over racing but today he relaxed well. Probably the seven day back up helped.
“It was a nice tempo. From the 1000 metres they started to steady so from about 700 I just popped three wide and waited until we straightened up before I asked him to go and he was very strong on the line.”
The Jim Conlan-trained Exclusive Choice snatched victory by a nose in the race that followed, the $100,000 Slickpix Silver Bowl Series Final (1600m).
Piloted by Ben Melham, it was the three-year-old gelding's first victory in the Series.
“I thought it was a really good race for him on paper and it was good speed and it's a nice big open track so we could give him plenty of room,” said Melham.
“He's definitely better suited to these big tracks and I was happy to get going when I wanted to.”
The Tony Vasil-trained Dorsoduro, piloted by Nicholas Hall, claimed the final race of the day, the $100,000 Rivette Series Final (1600m), by two lengths.
“It's taken her a couple of preps to get the hang of it but obviously the two races here of the last three have been above board and exceptional,” said Aquanita representative Trent Pennuto, “She's been racing well.”