Im Ready Jet’s fourth appearance in the Sumthingaboutmaori Mares Trotters Free For All finished with a second victory in the race and sixth career Group 1 at Melton on Saturday night.
The Anton Golino-trained squaregaiter utilised her barrier draw advantage over main rival Queen Elida, leading all the way from gate one to back up the win in the same event from 2022.
Driver Nathan Jack was able to get Im Ready Jet away safely from the mobile and held out the early challengers for the front, with the formative stages of the 2760m content essentially sealing Queen Elida’s fate. After settling last from outside the back row, Chris Alford brought Brent Lilley’s mare three wide at the bell, but despite her best efforts she could only close to third and 6m from the eventual winner. Chris Svanosio’s charge Lady Adelia trailed Im Ready Jet throughout and held on to second.
“When Queen Elida was that far back, it was always going to be really, really hard for her. Especially when it was a cheap lead time,” Jack said.
“This mare has been a great mare and obviously the other mare went huge as well.
“I had a fair few looks for him (Alford) because I knew I was probably going slow enough to purposely invite him around. I know that she (Queen Elida) probably doesn’t quite run her best races when they do that, so I was sort of hoping he would come.
“When Shannon (O’Sullivan, Illawong Stardust) came in front of him, that made it even harder. She’s a great mare, Queen Elida, and sometimes you’ve got to drive to beat them.”
Im Ready Jet’s success was the 24th of her career and takes her earnings past $600,000.
Earlier in the night, The Highlight Reel provided something for the video editors with a professional front-running victory on debut in the IRT Shakamaker 2YO Classic.
Prepared by Clayton Tonkin, the son of Poster Boy controlled the feature from the front and ripped home in a slick last quarter of 26.4 to stave off the gallant efforts of Hesitate, who was brave for trainer-driver Damien Burns.
Tim O’Connor
