Mister Jadore repays owners in spades
Bargain-priced Mister Jadore looked on target for major carnival victories when he scored an impressive frontrunning win in the $100,000 Westbred 3YO Colts And Geldings Pace (2130m) at Gloucester Park tonight.
The bay, bought for $17,000 at a Perth yearling sale by trainer Annie Belton and her husband Colin, has earned stakes totalling $267,889 in a 27-start career featuring 12 wins.
His targets include the $125,000 McInerney Ford 4YO Classic (2536m) in November and the $175,000 Golden Nugget Championship (2536m) in December.
The classic and championship traditionally highlight opening meetings at Gloucester Park's spring-summer carnival.
"We're looking forward to next season," Colin Belton said after tonight's victory. "He's shaping very well to tackle four-year-old races."
Mister Jadore ($2.80) rated 1:57.1 to win by 1.8m from favourite Mista Rush ($2). Khun Ratha ($7.50) finished a further 4.8m back in third place.
Champion reinsman Chris Lewis briefly settled Mister Jadore in third position, then dashed to lead within 400m of the start.
Mista Rush went forward to face the breeze and a two-horse duel developed in the last lap.
Mister Jadore and Mista Rush were locked together at the 150m before Mister Jadore again edged ahead.
Capel-trained Im Bella Jay completed a prestige double when she won the $100,000 Westbred 3YO Fillies Pace (2130m).
The bay, prepared by Andrew de Campo, was a $100,000 Westbred 2YO Fillies Pace (2130m) winner 12 months ago.
Im Bella Jay has won at eight of 25 starts and earned prize money totalling $174,564.
She started $2.60 tonight and won by 1.9m from favourite Harriet Elisabeth ($2.40). The winner's stablemate Maddy White ($8.30) was 5.5m back in third place.
Reinsman Matthew White made a winning move when he sprinted Im Bella Jay from 10th to second at the 1200m. Harriet Elisabeth came wide from 11th at the bell.
Class pacer David Hercules ($2.40 favourite) produced a courageous performance to win the $35,000 Channel Nine Winter Cup (2536m) after facing the breeze.
He rated 1:57.4 in scoring by 5.5m from Please Release Me ($19.50), with 1m to third placegetter Ima Rocket Star ($50.50).
The David Thompson-trained David Hercules, driven tonight by Morgan Woodley, has won at 31 of 89 starts and earned $843,404.
Meanwhile, WA star Im Themightyquinn is in top condition for his Brisbane debut in Saturday night's $60,000 Sunshine Sprint (1660m) at Albion Park.
"His appetite is as good as ever," trainer Gary Hall said tonight. "He's been knocking me over to get at his feed bin."
Im Themightyquinn has drawn gate six and will be driven by Hall's son Gary Jr.
