Dead heat for QTIS two-year-olds
|
Nothing could separate D’jet and Starstreamed after 1000m bar the QTIS prizemoney (Noel Pascoe photo)
|
Not even technology could separate the fast-finishing efforts of D’jet and Starstreamed in the Number 1 In Racing QTIS 600 2YO Handicap 1000m at Eagle Farm on Saturday, January 16.
D’jet, who raced third from the rear, and Starstreamed, second to last, both left it to the final moments to make their identical mark on the race which was deemed a dead heat.
The two-year-old’s shared first and second placed prizemoney, however D’jet had bragging rights with his QTIS registration allowing him to retrieve $13,500 in added stakes.
D’jet also overcame punters’ expectations as the gelding, by Jet Spur out of D’flyer, jumped from the barriers at $41 with Glen Killen onboard to match the more fancied Starstreamed ($2.80) with Brad Pengelly in the saddle.
Only opinion has really separated the dead-heaters’ short careers.
The Col Williamson-trained D’jet has returned from three starts a first and a third with career prizemoney at $35,500, which includes the $13,500 QTIS race bonus.
Starstreamed, from the Tony Webb stables, similarly has raced on two occasions for a first and a second to claim $31,000 in career prizemoney.
Starstreamed, a colt by Starcraft (NZ) out of Gay Performance, has Webb “tickled pink” with the two-year-old’s progression.
“We always had the opinion that the horse would never make a two-year-old because he’s a big gangly bloke,” Webb revealed.
“I said to the owners, Prue and Libby Head, if we won any prizemoney with him as a two-year-old it would be a bonus, because I think he’s going to be a three-year-old prospect.
“Looking at the video at about the 600m, he was spotting the leaders about six to six and a half lengths start. He ran about all over the place and hasn’t learnt to race yet.
“He has pulled up very, very shin sore. He has raced through pain in the race, so he has done an excellent job.”
Webb and the Head mother and daughter team were far from sure of the result.
“I’ll settle for a dead-heat,” Webb said. “Originally I thought he got beat, but then when the dead-heat came up I thought ‘well that will do me’.”
True Blue Angel, driven by jockey Jim Byrne, rode on the pace for the trip and showed grit to hold on for third with plenty of pressure coming from Starstreamed, D’jet and Sister Havana.
The plucky ride saw the QTIS and QTIS 600 registered filly, trained by Toowoomba-based Lex Fraser, collect $11,000 which included $6000 in added stakes.
Further advertisement for the QTIS and QTIS 600 scheme is True Blue Angel’s record of one win and two thirds to claim $34,000 in career prizemoney which includes $22,000 in QTIS and QTIS 600 bonuses.
D’jet turned the tables considerably on $1.80 race favourite Sister Havana, who beat the gelding by five and three quarter lengths at Doomben two weeks prior.
Sister Havana missed the jump, but rallied to sit just off the pace. The two-year-old filly trained by Liam Birchley could not match the efforts of the two latecomers bolting down the centre of the track and had to settle for fourth.
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Ross Dowd – January 18
|
