Stablehand Kimberley Porter felt good about Come Along Jeffrey when he arrived on the course at Ballarat on Sunday.
Trainer Jamie Edwards thought the six-year-old would need another run to produce winning form, but the gelding was bright and bouncy in the race day stalls suggesting that he was ahead of schedule.
“He came to the races in good nick and Kimberley who looks after him said she had a good feeling about him today,” Jamie said.
“His trackwork has been good and after we got to the races, he was very bright out the back bouncing around.
Come Along Jeffrey who had some late backing, went to the barriers one of the outsiders at $21 in the Hygain Winners Choice BM64 Hcp (1200m) and led all the way to score in a blanket finish from Oak Park Rebel ($14) and Ti Tree Lad ($9.50), who flashed home from near last.
Jamie said the race was probably won in the first 50 metres when Come Along Jeffrey, ridden by Tom Stockdale, jumped straight to the front.
He had an easy lead and dictated the tempo throughout with Tom Stockdale pondering how much was left in the tank when the field quickened.
“He was pressured just before the turn and I didn’t know how much I had left underneath me, but once I got halfway into the straight and I realised he wasn’t going to lie down on me I was quite confident he would win,” Tom said.
“He’s a pretty tough horse up on speed and he will improve as he had a nice blow after the race,” Tom said.
Jamie said Come Along Jeffrey got the perfect conditions with a soft 7 track, noting that four of the gelding’s five wins have been on tracks rated soft 7s or wetter.
“We’ve got a good six to eight weeks ahead where he should get these tracks which suit him, and he’ll take improvement from this run.”
Owned by Brian O’Dwyer, Come Along Jeffrey is a son of Super One, and has raced 28 times for five wins and nine minor placings for $133,780 in prizemoney.