Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
“You don’t get much more luck than that,” said Deni Roberts after driving outsider Jett Star to victory in the $23,000 Trotsynd Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The New Zealand-bred Jett Star is a quality pacer prepared by champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond, but from out wide at barrier No. 7 and racing first-up after a three-and-a-half-month absence, he was not expected to be a winning chance.
However, when the $6.50 second fancy Rolling Fire suffered an atrial fibrillation about 900m from home it completely changed the complexion of the race.
The $1.10 favourite Franco Ecuador was setting the pace after a slow lead time of 39.4sec. and Jett Star was racing in the one-out, one-back position.
Rolling Fire, who was trailing Franco Ecuador, began to drop back approaching the bell and was retired from the event soon afterwards by Gary Hall Jnr.
With Rolling Fire out of the race, Roberts was able to ease Jett Star across to the pegs to sit behind Franco Ecuador. The third 400m section was covered in a swift 27.9sec. and was followed by a final quarter of 27.5sec.
Roberts eased Jett Star off the pegs 110m from home and the six-year-old sprinted fast to get up and win by a half-neck from Franco Ecuador. It was a major upset, with Jett Star being a $46.50 outsider who was a $71 chance on the fixed market.
“I knew that Rolling Fire was in trouble coming into the bell when he was struggling to keep up,” said Roberts. “And I was happy to go to the fence.
“Jett Star is a quality horse and we have been happy with his work at home. But from the wide draw we weren’t confident tonight. I wanted to give Jett Star a soft run, first-up, and I planned to go to the fence. But when El Chema went to the breeze, I was happy to stay in the one-wide line.”
Jett Star won at his first five outings as a two-year-old in May and June 2020, with his victories including the Group 1 Pearl Classic in which he defeated Lavra Joe. He now has raced 41 times for 19 wins, eight placings and $228,832 in prizemoney.