The Dulacca Jet lands a QTIS 600 windfall
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Jason Warrington and Dulacca Jet showed steely determination in a tight QTIS 600 finish (Three Way Photos)
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The latest chapter in this year’s lucrative QTIS 600 Race Series was fought out at the Dalby and Northern Downs Jockey Club’s picturesque Bunya Park racecourse.
Big fields greeted the enthusiastic oncourse punters, and the feature $50,000 QTIS 600 2YO Plate 1000m on Saturday, February 13 produced a head-bobbing result with less than a length covering the first four placings.
The Craig Smith-trained Lambert, ridden by apprentice Rowan Cox, looked to have the $32,000 first place cheque all sewn up to record two wins from two outings.
However it was the Toowoomba-based Dulacca Jet, for trainer Kevin Kemp and jockey Jason Warrington, that stole the show by half a neck.
After placing sixth twice, at Doomben and the Gold Coast, the two-year-old filly by Jetspur, out of Pentagonal, produced a spirited run to collect her first prizemoney return for owners Brian and Kaylene Gibson.
Kemp is seriously considering an assault on the $250,000 QTIS 600 2YO Plate on the Gold Coast as part of the race series on Saturday, March 20, which precedes the 2010 QTIS 600 Magic Millions Yearling Sales on Sunday, March 21 and Monday, March 22.
Dulacca Jet was purchased for $40,000 at last year’s QTIS 600 Sales and looks primed for a return to the glitter strip according to Kemp.
“We’ll just follow these (QTIS 600 Race Series) around now. There’s a nice one over 1200m at the Gold Coast. I’d love her there,” he said.
“She proved today that the 1000m is going to be a bit short even next start.”
Lambert, a gelding by Oarsman, held onto second place for connections, which includes Smith’s son Tyson.
Peter Bredhauer purchased the two-year-old at last year’s QTIS 600 Sales for $18,000, from whom Smith purchased a share in the horse as a 21st birthday present for Tyson.
Lambert subsequently had his maiden run on his home track at Roma on Tyson’s 22nd birthday, Saturday, November 21, 2009, and dashed home for a long neck present, which included a $5600 QTIS 600 and QTIS race bonus.
The result at Dalby will see Lambert also aimed at further success in the race series which concludes on Saturday, July 10 at Eagle Farm with a $250,000 lure for two-year-olds.
“I gave my son and my foreman a share in him and it’s the first horse they’ve raced, so they’re rapt,” Smith said.
“That’s the aim to have a crack at the Race Series further, because I think he’ll get a bit better as he gets over a bit further distance.
“This is what it’s all about. There’s about seven owners and a few came out and it is the first time they’ve been to a country meeting.”
Toowoomba-based trainer Lex Fraser provided the third placed True Blue Angel, ridden by Chris Maund.
The two-year-old filly has made a habit out of being third past the post, producing the result four times from her six starts which include campaigns in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Ipswich.
Dalby and Northern Downs Jockey Club president, Michael Kelly, is looking forward to the possibility of hosting the event next year and explains the impact of QTIS 600 on the region.
“The Dalby club has received enormous promotion from the QTIS 600 race,” he said. “Having a $50,000 race for two-year-olds is something to talk about.
“We have had a two-year-old race programmed at this meeting previously, and it’s had to be cancelled because there haven’t been enough horses training. QTIS 600 has certainly brought the horses on, and brought owners into racing.
“I know that Brian and Kaylene bought that horse (Dulacca Jet) specifically to race in these races.”
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Ross Dowd – February 15
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