By John Dunne
With the box sufficiently ticked, Im Ready Jet will head across the Tasman to take her place in next month’s TAB Trot slot race at Cambridge after completing back-to-back wins in the Group 1 Aldebaran Park Sumthingaboutmaori Trotting Mares Free For All at Melton on Saturday night.
Sent out favourite, Im Ready Jet was given time to balance up before assuming the front running with two laps to travel while her main danger Queen Elida settled at the rear before joining the leader at the bell.
The race was never in doubt and Im Ready Jet cruised to the line holding an eight-metre advantage over Aldebaran Acrux in a mile rate of 1:59.5 for the 2760 metres.
The eight-year-old scored a first-up win at Melton last week and owner Pat Driscoll indicated a trip to the North Island would depend on Im Ready Jet “ticking the box” this week.
After the race, Driscoll confirmed the Haras Des Trotteurs slot will be allocated to his multiple Group 1-winning mare.
“It was a really good performance and unless Andy says ‘no’ and assuming she pulls up okay, I believe she’ll be there,” Driscoll said.
Im Ready Jet has made the Sumthingaboutmaori Free For All her own in recent years, winning three of the past four editions while finishing runner-up behind Queen Elida in the other.
“She was a phenomenal horse Sumthingaboutmaori and she’s actually in the paddock at home and I can’t believe Im Ready Jet has now won three of them. It’s been a top effort by Kate and Andy to get her to this third win” he said.
“One of the things that has held her in good stead is that I don’t think she’s ever seen a vet in all her time, she’s a very sound mare and I think she has got a little bit stronger as she’s got older.”
High-class trotter Arcee Phoenix also booked himself a flight to New Zealand for the TAB Trot after he easily accounted for his rivals in the Scotch Notch Memorial.
Trainer Chris Svanosio was quietly confident the favourite would prevail from his favorable front row draw.
“I was confident that he was really well, but anything can happen in these small fields. He did get crossed at the start which I thought might happen, but I wasn’t too stressed and it worked out perfectly,” Svanosio said.
The six-year-old, who ran fourth in the race last year, will compete under the slot held by Aldebaran Park.
“It was fantastic that Duncan (McPherson) asked us to go last year and we were rapt with his run, he probably had his chance to finish a bit closer,” he said.
“We’re hoping he can go a bit better this year. He’s had a couple of trips over there now, so he’s had a bit of experience, (and) we’re hoping he’s feeling good in about 13 days in Cambridge.”
