All eleven runners in Wednesday’s Ladbrokes Blackbook 2yo (1200m) at Doomben were winners, including five last-start winners, and the Headwater gelding Don’t Forget Jack put them to the sword.
Ridden by Rory Hutchings for Stephen Jones, Don’t Forget Jack made the trip to Brisbane following his win on debut over 1000m at Muswellbrook on May 3.
Settled back midfield, Don’t Forget Jack came widest of all on the turn. Displaying a blistering turn of foot, the strapping son of Headwater put the race to bed in a matter of strides. He defeated the Snitzel filly Appellant by three lengths, with the Sun City filly Mishani Suspect three-quarters of a length back in third.
“I think he is something special, the best horse I have ever trained,” Jones gushed.
“There’s a Listed race on JJ Atkins Day, Oxlade Stakes, over 1300m. We nominated for the Atkins, but it comes up quickly, so we will give him a run in the Listed race and put him away. He is something special.”
Rory Hutchings believes he is far from the finished article.
“He has an engine, but still not sure how to use it properly,” Rory Hutchings said.
“He is a promising horse on the way up. We hit the front a long way from home, and he was stargazing all the way up the straight. He will be a nice horse when he works it all out.”
Bred and part-owned by Peter Robertson, Don’t Forget Jack was consigned by Attunga Stud to the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale, Falling short of his $250,000 reserve.
A half-brother to the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate winner Aspect (Pluck) and the dual Listed winner Brown Ben (Big Brown), Don’t Forget Jack is the fifth winner from as many to race for the talented Lonhro mare Innishbeg.
A 5-time winning half-sister to the Group III Gosford RC Belle of the Turf Hcp winner Sexy Eyes (Written Tycoon) and Listed winner Tina Melina (Jet Spur), Innishbeg has a weanling colt by Exceedance and visited Ole Kirk last spring.
Headwater is enjoying an outstanding season with his two-year-olds. The son of Exceed and Excel has nine winners from 20 runners. Only Written Tycoon and Snitzel have more.
Headwater stands at a value fee of $9,900 at Vinery Stud in the forthcoming season.
