Multiple Group 1-winning mare Im Ready Jet may have booked herself a trip across the Tasman to contest next month’s TAB Trot after an impressive first-up win at Melton on Saturday night.
Resuming since November, the Andy Gath-trained eight-year-old settled midfield in the running line before Kate Gath launched a three-wide assault on the leader and $1.95 favourite Queen Elida with 600 metres to travel.
Im Ready Jet levelled up with the leaders around the home turn and managed to stave off a late challenge from Im Bobby to score by half a head in a mile rate of 1:58.3.
The daughter of Quaker Jet has now won twice first-up at Melton since joining the Gath stable mid last year.
“She felt terrific, actually,” Kate Gath said after the race.
“We probably got going a bit early up the back, but she felt really good doing it and she was good to the line still – she had her chance to get run down with the run Im Bobby had, but her class prevailed.”
A product of the acclaimed Yabby Dam Farms nursery, Im Ready Jet has one hoof on the plane to Cambridge, which will host the slot race, according to principal Pat Driscoll.
“Assuming she pulls up well, she will run next week. And if she ticks that box, she will go to New Zealand,” Driscoll said.
Later in the night, Yambukian completed a stable double when he out-toughed his rivals in the Hygain Pace.
Yambukian was caught parked outside the leader Our Vincent Can Gogh before surging to the lead turning off the back straight. The seven-year-old gained a winning break in the home stretch and held on to score by a metre from the Rocknroll Hammer in a mile rate of 1:53.1 for the 1720 metres.
Kate Gath said a clear run through from the second row was instrumental in the win.
John Dunne
