The Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained Jacquinot added another Group 1 trophy to his name after the star son of Rubick won the Group 1 $750,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Sandown on Saturday on protest over Gentleman Roy.
Jacquinot was elevated to 2023 CF Orr Stakes winner on protest. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Lindsay Park‘s progressive So You Think six-year-old Gentleman Roy put the writing on the wall for a potential $4.5 million The All-Star Mile bid with a gutsy on-speed success, before being dethroned in the stewards’ room with a successful protest by the runner-up.
Jacquinot’s hoop Damian Lane lodged the protest against original first-past-the-post Gentleman Roy and jockey Mark Zahra, who also rode the 2022 CF Orr champ Tofane.
Jacquinot copped a bump close to the finish when moving up the middle between horses.
The interference was was found to have cost the colt the race with the quinella officially reversed and the Golden Rose champ from the spring elevated to first.
The Ben & JD Hayes-trained Gentleman Roy was still impressive leading from barrier to box to hold off a class field of rivals before being delegated to second.
“He’s a remarkable horse he was there to be beat and he fought off some really good horses there,” co-trainer JD Hayes told Racing.com before the protest result was official.
“He’s just as brave as the day is long.”
Gentleman Roy had the advantage of a first-up black-type win and built on that momentum stepping up notably in grade.
He was a sitting duck in front the final furlong with runs coming from some of the returning stars, and while they couldn’t run him down, he eventually had to hand back his first Group 1 only moments after being crowned.
Third went to the ultra-consistent Nugget from the Maher/Eustace stable.
One of the runs of the race however was the fourth placed I’m Thunderstruck who was excellent late first-up ahead of tougher autumn targets.
The resuming Cox Plate runner-up heads all-in betting on this year’s $4.5 million The All-Star Mile (1600m) which takes place at The Valley on March 18.
He ran the ideal All-Star Mile trial in the Orr, as did the winner’s stablemate Mr Brightside who worked his way from last to fifth finishing strongly.
“I thought (Mr) Brightside was brilliant too,” Hayes said.
Gentleman Roy is currently rated a $15 chance in the all-in All-Star Mile markets at Ladbrokes that are led by I’m Thunderstruck ($5), while Jacquinot is at $12.
