By ‘Pegs’
KILMORE trainer Hanna Powell’s Just Jake, paying odds of $9, appreciated the drop in class in impressively winning at Sportsbet-Ballarat Synthetic on Friday.
Coming off a pleasing mid-field placing on a heavy 10 surface at Sandown Hillside track last month, the six-year-old gelded son of Reward For Effort and Heavenly Dawn was a comfortable winner of the $40,000 Hygain Winners Choice BM70 Handicap over 1200 metres.
Giving the in-form Jarrod Fry the second leg of a riding treble, the gelding was positioned behind the leader until halfway down the straight where he took charge to defeat Ultimate Edition, $14, by a head with Brazen Brando, $21, a further one and a half lengths away third.
“Full marks to Jarrod on the ride as he didn’t get flustered and just sat behind the leader and he doesn’t mind this surface either which he’s won on previously,” Powell said.
“He pulled up really well and he has qualified for the final at Pakenham Synthetic over 1200 metres on the 26th August.”
Raced by Powell and her husband, Ian, Just Jake has now won seven races with eight seconds and three third placings from his 35 starts. He has earnt $224,618 in prizemoney.
Meanwhile, Powell said she would set the bar higher for the ultra-consistent stablemate Kiss Me If You Can – winner of three of his past five starts – and enter him in the $130,000 Handicap over 1500 metres at Moonee Valley on Saturday, August 20.
Hoofnote: Powell’s strike rate of late has been five winners from her last 16 starters.