Talented stayer Jetset Lad produced an impressive late kick to win the card-ending Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2200m) on Stradbroke Handicap Day at Doomben Racecourse.
Jetset Lad, red with white sleeves, slices through to win the Brisbane Cup at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Jumping from the gates only fairly, jockey Paul Hammersley was forced to settle off pace of early leaders Escado, Volkhere and Surpass past the post the first time, who appeared focused on setting a reasonably quick early tempo.
Pushing off the rails over the final straight, Hammersley led Jetset Lad around the field and joined Escado on pace approaching the final bend.
Finding a clear racing line in the final straight, Jetset Lad locked in a fierce sprint battle with Epingle and Sense Of Occasion, and while appearing to have fallen off pace with 200m to run, produced an impressive kick to poke through a win in a photo finish.
Queenslanders have been unable to post much success in major black type events through the 2015 Brisbane Winter Carnival, but trainer Brian Smith was pleased to take one back from the locals in saddling Jetset Lad to success in the Brisbane Cup.
“What a great little horse,” Smith said after the race.
“When the bloke’s out three wide in the Derby and won it, I told my jockey Paul Hammersley ‘Just cuddle him up!’
“What a game horse and if you’re patient, I’m old now, but if you’re patient you get one!
“You just keep living the dream in this game, don’t you.”
Jetset Lad has steadily built to the task over four starts this time in; running fourth in a minor over 1200m first-up, and while failing to figure when eleventh in the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup (1400m) on April 15th, has clearly relished a continued step-up in distance in placing eighth in the Listed Member’s Handicap (1600m) and third in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2020m) leading into this afternoon’s success
