Headstrong mare Tango Jewel bounced back from “horrible” campaign last winter to lead all the way at Sandown on Easter Monday.
Champion jockey Craig Williams was a late engagement for the mare after his original mount was scratched from the Senet Gambling Law Experts BM70 Hcp (1200m) and he could not have ridden the daughter of Winning Rupert better.
Deploying the same front running tactics which were successful when Tango Jewel posted a Class 1 city win at Sandown win in February last year, Craig never looked like bring caught on the five-year-old.
“I went back through the replays and saw her last win was here over 1200 metres, and I tried to adopt the same tactics as Celine (Gaudray) did that day,” Craig said.
He said Tango Jewel was fired up going to the barriers which added to the merit of the win.
“She has done a good job because she spent a lot of energy pre-race and will be better for the win,” Craig said.
Congratulations to owners Ross and Margaret O’Callaghan who paid $10,000 for Tango Jewel at the 2020 Inglis Great Southern Sale.
She has now won three of her 14 starts and $115,101 in prizemoney although she did have trainer Jamie Edwards scratching his head last campaign when she was well beaten in three runs in July and August.
“It is a complete mystery why she didn’t come up last preparation,” Jamie said.
“She showed speed but would just drop out.”
“Credit to her owners because they let us put her away, start again, and now we’ve got a mare who handles rain affected tracks heading in winter.
“I love that she’s an aggressive sprinter because you can give her plenty of work, but she can be a handful.
“I don’t think she’s ever been ridden at home without wearing blinkers because if
you leave them off she’ll send you into orbit.”
“I reckon, she threw one of my riders at home five or six times.”
Jamie said despite her Tango Jewel’s always shaped as a genuine city prospect despite her testing temperament.
“She is a mare that has needed time and hopefully she can keep improving this winter.”