No Doubt About This One
- Saturday, 26 June 2010 05:50
Originally the first emergency, Doubtful Jack well and truly justified his position in the field by winning Heat 6 of the VRC-CRV Winter Championship at Flemington this afternoon.
Winning by a widening 5½ lengths, Doubtful Jack ($2.50-$2.40F) never looked liked being beaten in the run. Second was the consistent Trustus ($7.50-$7.00-$7.50) with three quarters of a length to Dr Nipandtuck ($13-$18) in third place.
Jumping well from barrier 8, rider Jason Benbow had Doubtful Jack in the lead early before Michael Rodd brought Outlandish Lad across from his outside barrier to take over.
Benbow was content to let Doubtful Jack lob along in second place for the middle section of the race before clicking him up to take the lead at the 400 metre mark.
From then on the race became a procession, with Doubtful Jack going further in front with each stride.
"For a three year old against the older horses, he's pretty exciting", Benbow said.
"He had to do a little bit of work early because he didn't break that well from the barrier, but once he got outside the leader he settled good and showed a great turn of foot from the top of the straight."
Benbow has had a long association with Doubtful Jack's trainer Peter Moody, riding trackwork three days a week.
However on race day he normally has to take second place behind stable jockey's Luke Nolen and Linda Meech.
"Its always good when Luke gets suspended", Benbow quipped to the waiting media.
"Linda's established herself as the provincial jockey and Luke's the city jockey."
"I'm the call-up jockey but its not a bad job."
"The scary part is that he is", was Benbow's response when asked if Doubtful Jack was still improving.
"If he goes to the final he's going to be pretty hard to beat."
And Benbow will be trying hard to retain the ride in the $200,000 Winter Championship Final to be run at Flemington on the 10th of July.
"I'll definitely be putting my hand up", he said.
Photos: Fiona Tomlin
