Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Jett Star is renowned for his toughness, and there is no doubt he relished a rare soft run on his way to scoring a smart victory in the 2130m Catalanotrucks.com.au Combined Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Jett Star, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, was the $2.70 favourite from the No. 6 barrier, and star driver Deni Roberts had the luxury of guiding him around in the favourable one-out, one-back position.
Magnus Victor ($6.50) led from barrier five, with $5 chance Hillview Bondi, beaten for early speed, in the breeze. Roberts bided her time before sending Jett Star forward, three wide, just passing the 400m.
Jett Star dashed clear on the home turn and won by a half-length from the $3.10 second fancy Rolling Fire, who had trailed Jett Star throughout the race.
“With Rolling Fire on my back, I didn’t want to go that early,” said Roberts. “But Jett Star was starting to grab up a bit, and he is better rolling. I then waited three wide until the home turn.
“It was nice for Jett Star not to have to go it so tough for a change. Lobbing one-out and one-back worked out perfectly, particularly with Hillview in the breeze a good horse to sit on and knowing that the pace would be genuine.”
The New Zealand-bred Jett Star has done all his racing in WA where his 50 starts have produced 22 wins and eleven placings for $275,104 in prizemoney.