Tassie Derby Winner Explosive Jack Captures the Blue Riband at Randwick

Mark Smith - Saturday April 10

From a maiden at Swan Hill to a benchmark 64 at Kembla Grange, to a  Tasmania Derby and everywhere in between, the well-travelled  Explosive Jack gave the toffs a beating in an all-Karaka graduate finish to Saturday’s $2,000,000 Group 1 ATC Bentley Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick.

With regular rider John Allen in the saddle, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained son of Jakkalberry (IRL)  finished determinedly to defeat Tavistock gelding Young Werther by a half-head with Contributer (IRL) gelding Lion’s Roar a head back in third.

Explosive Jack has the last shot (image Steve Hart)

Purchased by Moody Racing for $100,000 out of the Novara Park draft at the 2019 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale, Explosive Jack advnces his record to four wins, a second and a third from seven starts with earnings of $1,459,910.

“It’s phenomenal really. This horse has been in work a long time,” Maher said.

“He has been to all our stables and the team have done an extraordinary job with him.

“His last piece of work on Saturday was the best piece he’s done since he’s had a saddle on his back. Johnny (Allen) was on board him at Werribee and he just said ‘he’s flying’ and I said ‘well that’s how it looks’. He thought he might lack that little bit of class, but we knew he was a very very strong stayer and he was right to go. So, full credit to him.”

“To the owners, they‘re great mates and just a really good bunch of people and really enjoy the whole rollercoaster of racing. They were fortunate enough to be here with Kenedna (winner of the Queen Of The Turf in 2019) not so long ago, and then to be back here again. I couldn’t be happier, and I can’t thank them enough.”

John Allen praised the colt’s constitution.

 “He is a tough horse, the distance was never going to be a worry with him, Allen said.

“We got cover on the back of Young Werther. Montefilia actually popped out down the side and pushed me out a bit wide. I didn’t want to take off on him too early so I let her come around me.”

“Once we got to the outside, he really let down and he tries his guts out this horse.”

Advertisement

Explosive Jack became the first stakes winner for Jakkalberry (IRL) when he won the Tasmanian Derby and now becomes the first Group 1 winner for Novara Park’s ill-fated stallion.

 The globe-trotting son of Storming Home (GB) covered four books of mares before dying of a gut infection in 2018.

Initially trained in Italy by Endo Botti, Jakkalberry won the 2010 Group 1 Gran Premio di Milano.

He was transferred to Marco Botti the following year and travelled the world, making a start in six countries. He was third in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic, won the American St Leger and was third again in the 2012 Melbourne Cup. Jakkalberry  made one start in 2013, winning the Group II Dubai City of Gold Stakes at Meydan.

Extra Jack was the third most expensive of the 24 Jakkalberry yearlings sold at major sales.

A half-brother to Pick Number One (Darci Brahma), the Champion Griffin in Hong Kong in 2017-18, Explosive Jack makes it two stakes-winners from as many to race out of Extra Explosive.

Jakkalberry

A daughter of Darci Brahma, Extra Explosive won the Listed  Castletown Stakes. She is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Explosive Dance, the dam of the Group 1 NZ Derby winner Vin de Dance.

A colt by Time Test out of Extra Explosive was purchased for $65,000 by Benner Racing at the Karaka Yearling Sale.

Extra Explosive has a filly fol by Staphanos (JPN) and was covered by Sweynesse last spring.

Advertisment

Race Result - Bentley Australian Derby Gr1 2400m

Randwick Track: Soft(6) Time: 2:34.13
1
Explosive Jack
- 3c Jakkalberry (IRE) x Extra Explosive (NZ) (Ekraar (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 56.5
2
0.1
Young Werther
- 3g Tavistock (NZ) x Romantic Time (NZ) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: T Marquand 56.5
3
0.3
Lion's Roar
- 3g Contributer (IRE) x Minnaleo (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe (USA))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: B Avdulla 56.5
4
2.4
Montefilia
- 3f Kermadec (NZ) x Bana Wu (GB) (Shirocco (GER))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: J R Collett 54.5
5
2.5
Khoekhoe
- 3c Turffontein (AUS) x Walvis Bay (NZ) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: Craig Williams 56.5
6
4.5
Favreau
- 3g Tavistock (NZ) x Lady Kipling (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: Tommy Berry 56.5
7
5.1
The Frontman
- 3c Makfi (GB) x Imposingly (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: J Bowman 56.5
8
5.5
Rocket Spade
- 3c Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Affairoftheheart (NZ) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: L O'Sullivan & A Scott Rdr: K Mc Evoy 56.5
9
6.1
Olympic Gaze
- 3g Olympic Glory (IRE) x Wingstack (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: P M Perry Rdr: Damian Lane 56.5
10
6.2
Toscanini
- 3c Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Soubrettes (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Jamie Kah 56.5
11
8.3
Zakspeed
- 3g Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Keep The Change (AUS) (Dash For Cash (AUS))
Tnr: Ms W Roche Rdr: A Adkins 56.5
12
8.9
Rondino
- 3g Shamus Award (AUS) x Little Less Lip (AUS) (Blevic (AUS))
Tnr: G D Hickman Rdr: K S Latham 56.5
13
9.0
Milford
- 3c Savabeel (AUS) x Etiquette (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: D Oliver 56.5
14
10.2
Sky Lab
- 3g Real Impact (JPN) x Gold Mission (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: P M Perry Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56.5
15
31.6
Yaletown
- 3g Vancouver (AUS) x Marianne (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 56.5
16
34.2
Prompt Prodigy
- 3c More Than Ready (USA) x Allez Wonder (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Edward Cummings Rdr: Rachel King 56.5
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Monday June 23
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Cranbourne
Second in the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate last year to Tycoon Star, this Cosmic Force colt made light work of a maiden at Cranbourne on Sunday when bolting away to win as he pleased.
One to Watch – Wyong
The juvenile maiden at Wyong on Tuesday had some interesting runners including the highest price yearling by Maurice (Jpn) sold in 2024 and he did take the win, but it was not without drama.
Waikato Stud Weanling Draft Showcases Super Stallions
After a phenomenal few months for Waikato Stud’s stallion roster, the world-renowned nursery will offer six select progeny of those high-flying sires at this week’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka.
One to Watch – Scone
Kris Lees often sends a talented horse to the country to cast off maiden status and a two year-old Exceedance gelding did just that on debut at Scone on Monday.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury
There were a whopping 10 heats won by juveniles at the Canterbury trials on Monday morning that included some interesting unraced youngsters by Zoustar, Zousain and Trapeze Artist, plus a good looking youngster that may see the benefit of gelding.
Jack's Back in Sydney Cup
Wins dried up for Explosive Jack (NZ) after he was crowned the ‘King Of The Derbies’ at three, but the 5yo son of Jakkalberry (IRE) knows how to stay, which served him well for Saturday’s $2,000,000 Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick.
G1 Tatts Tiara – Where Are They Now?
The last Group I race of the Australian racing season, the $700,000 Tatts Tiara (1400m) will be run this Saturday and as a fillies and mares feature the winner is often headed straight to stud, so we’re taking a look at where these girls are at.
Ardrossan Supporters Rewarded with Taken
The emergence of the Victorian-based Taken is another winning story for a New Zealand breeding and ownership group established to support the three-year-old’s young sire.
Explosive Jack the King of the Derbies
Tough-as-teak three-year-old Explosive Jack captured a third Derby in Saturday's $500,000 Group 1 South Australian Derby at Morphettville, and he might not be finished yet.