Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
New Zealand-bred five-year-old Jett Star, winner of the Group 1 Pearl Classic in June 2020 (when he beat Lavra Joe), notched his eighth win at Gloucester Park when he worked hard in the breeze before scoring an easy victory in the 1730m Caduceus Club Members Pace on Friday night.
Jett Star, the $1.60 favourite from barrier three, raced three wide early and then on the outside of the pacemaker Make It Happen ($11), who got to the front after 500m following a keen early struggle for ascendancy with Stormyskyes.
“The plan was to come out as hard as we could, and I held out everything outside of me,” said star driver Deni Roberts. “Stormyskyes and Make It Happen had a bit of sorting out to do, and as long as I held out everything else I was happy. When Jett Star is right, he’s got a lot of ability.”
Jett Star burst to the front 120m from home and won by almost two lengths from his fast-finishing stablemate and $4.20 second fancy Vulcan Star.
Jett Star, raced by Team Bond and trained by Greg and Skye Bond, was making his third appearance after a spell and he looks set for a fruitful campaign. A son of Bettors delight, he has already earned $151,115 from 14 wins and six placings from 27 starts.