News

Banjo final Fine for Vasil and Hill

6th Jul 2013

Racenet - Brad Waters - Saturday, 6 July 2013

Caulfield trainer Tony Vasil lauded the improvement of jockey Jack Hill after De Fine Lago upset the hot favourite Cooldini in Saturday’s Banjo Paterson Series Final (2600m) at Flemington.

Hill won on De Fine Lago at Moonee Valley on June 29 and piloted short-priced favourite Under The Leaner to victory for Vasil at Caulfield midweek before scoring his third win in seven days for the trainer.

"The horse is going great but I reckon the jockey is even going better,” Vasil said. "Jack Hill would be one of the most improved jockeys in Australia in the last 12 months and that was a copybook ride.

Cooldini was heavily backed with the corporate bookmakers in the days leading up to the race but Vasil said he hoped the Robert Smerdon-trained galloper’s long campaign would prove his undoing in the $100,000 contest.

"Clearly, I thought Robert’s was the one to beat but that has been up for a long time. I was just hoping today it would crumble and it did,” Vasil said.

Cooldini faced the breeze handy to the leader but was a spent force halfway down the straight as De Fine Lago powered to the front from a midfield position with 250 metres to run.

De Fine Lago paddled late but had enough in hand to beat the Nigel Blackiston-trained Outback Joe, who rallied late after the winner initially outsprinted him.

Vasil said the rising eight-year-old had returned from his share of injuries and illnesses to notch his eighth win from 34 starts.

"He came back 12 months ago after doing his suspensory. He was ready to race but he got colic, went to Werribee (vet clinic) and nearly died,” Vasil said. "He’s just a warhorse. He’s a terrific old horse.

"I know he’s seven but he’s only lightly raced. He’s a terrific horse.”

De Fine Lago was a $32,500 purchase by Aquanita Racing from the draft of Bombora Downs at the 2007 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale