Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Jackpot Joe, a well-bred New Zealand-bred colt, has failed to live up to expectations because of his lazy nature. But he struck form with a vengeance at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he responded to the pre-race urgings of champion reinsman Chris Lewis and scored a smart victory in the $20,250 Barbagallo Ferrari Pace for three-year-olds.
“Jackpot Joe has never really learnt to try,” said Busselton trainer Barry Howlett, who races the Bettors Delight colt with his wife Lynley and their children Katy and Jimmy.
“He would come back in after racing, not even puffing. He has been working so well at home, so I told Chris (reinsman Chris Lewis) to stir him up in the preliminary and to send him out at the start.”
Lewis stirred Jackpot Joe up in the preliminary, and the $21 chance had his mind on the job when Lewis got him away smartly from the No. 6 barrier and he settled down in the favourable one-out, one-back position while Speedwagon ($6.50) was setting the pace after resisting a spirited early challenge from another $6.50 chance Soho Dow Jones, who began brilliantly from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line.
Eventually, Mitch Miller was able to send Soho Dow Jones to the front 400m from home. Cullen Star ($34), who had trailed Speedwagon throughout, finished strongly, but was unable to hold out Jackpot Joe, who finished determinedly to hit the front in the final couple of strides.
“He has the ability, and now, hopefully, he will go on,” said Howlett, who left on Saturday for a well-deserved 11-day holiday in Bali.
Howlett purchased Jackpot Joe at the 2020 New Zealand yearling sale in Christchurch. “He was well bred, and I liked the look of him,” said Howlett.
Jackpot Joe is a full-brother to Motu Premier, who was trained in WA by Ross Olivieri and was driven by Lewis for seven Gloucester Park wins. Motu Premier, now racing in South Australia, has had 79 starts for 20 wins, 29 placings and $424,308 in prizemoney.