News

Youthful Jack delivers in the Royal Sovereign

15th Feb 2009

Racenet - Clinton Payne - Saturday, 14 February 2009

Robert Thompson declared Youthful Jack the “best three-year-old sprinter” he’s ever ridden in his long and illustrious career after he dominated his rivals in the $150,000 Group II McGrath Estate Agents Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Randwick today.

The Allan Denham-trained galloper will now follow the traditional path for the three-year-old colts and geldings of the Hobartville Stakes and Randwick Guineas before they get to the fork in the road.

“He is nominated for the Doncaster but we’ll just keep him in the three-year-old races and then make a decision,” Denham said.

After beginning well, Youthful Jack travelled behind the speed but as the field topped the rise, Thompson, released the brakes on his mount and Youthful Jack bounded clear to score easily.

“Even coming round the turn he had them covered,” Denham said.

“This was probably the toughest field he has beaten and he blew them away.

“The wet track probably helped but he’s a pretty good horse on the dry too.”

The second horse past the line was the favourite Desuetude but Jim Cassidy the jockey of third placegetter Over the Wicket was quick to lodge an objection for interference he suffered over the final 200 metres and stewards agreed and upheld his protest.

Youthful Jack, a $5,000 purchase for Taree horseman Ross Stitt has now won 11 of his 15 career starts with his earnings totalling 585,900, just shy of the reported $600,000 he was offered at the end of his two-year-old season by a prospective Hong Kong buyer.

Luckily for Stitt and his other part owner, Youthful Jack failed the vet check and the sale fell through.

The placings and margins: Youthful Jack 56kg ($3) (R.Thompson) defeated Over The Wicket 56kg ($41) (J.Cassidy) by three and a half lengths with Desuetude 56kg ($2.60) (C.Brown) in third.

The time and sectionals: The overall time for the race was 1.11.32 secs and the final 600 metres was run in 35.54 secs.

Winner’s breeding: A three-year-old gelding by Youthful Legs (USA) x Formative (White Bridle (USA)).

What they said: “He handled them pretty good,” winning jockey Robert Thompson said.

“It was a very good effort and he’ll be better again for the run,” said Jim Cassidy, rider of the runner-up Over The Wicket.

“He wasn’t good enough,” said Corey Brown, the jockey of third placegetter Desuetude.

“A very good run on that track,” said Hugh Bowman, rider of Duporth (4th).

“He went good, probably wasn’t on the best part of the track late in the day,” said Blake Shinn, rider of Baci Amore (5th).

“He’s better on top of the ground,” said Dan Nikolic, rider of All American (6th).

The Favourite: Desuetude had a lovely run trailling the speed abut when Youthful Jack went for home he was no match.

The market: Youthful Jack was well backed late firming from $3.30 to $3 and Desuetude was solid in betting at $2.60. The on-course market closed at 114 per cent.