CLASSY Sydney sprinter Youthful Jack gave former top jumps jockey Adam Trinder his biggest win as a trainer in last night's $90,000 Tote Stakes at Mowbray.
Devonport-based Trinder took over Youthful Jack's preparation three weeks ago at the request of owners Ross Stitt and Geoff Sheedy.
Stitt won the 2006 Launceston Cup with Precise Timing on his last visit to Tasmania when Trinder was the horse's trackwork rider.
``This is my first listed race win and it's great to have done it for Ross, who is one of the gentlemen of racing,'' Trinder said.
``Hopefully, the horse can now go on and complete the weight-for-age treble in the Thomas Lyons and George Adams.
``If he does, Ross might let me give him a run in Melbourne on his way home (to Taree).''
Jockey Robert Thomson, who has had a long association with Stitt and rode his Launceston Cup winner, said that Youthful Jack was ``nearly a group 1 horse'' in his prime.
``And he felt a bit like the old Youthful Jack tonight,'' Thompson said.
``He travelled well and the race panned out beautifully for him.
``It will probably take a crowbar to get me off him at his next start.''
Part-owner Sheedy said that Youthful Jack had taken time to regain form after a throat operation.
``For a while I think it was probably a mental thing - then he started to click again,'' Sheedy said.
``When he ran third at Warwick Farm last start all three placegetters broke a track record that had stood for 12 years.
``That convinced us to bring him down here and we were pretty confident.''
Youthful Jack started $3 favourite, firming from $3.20, and scored by a length from outsider Rave Night with Motspur hanging on gamely for third.
Three-year-old filly Buzzing Along flashed home for fourth in a great trial for the Vamos Stakes later this month.
Golden oldie: Veteran stayer Beven Heights postponed his own retirement when he outstayed his rivals for an 11th career win in the $15,000 Examiner Cup.
However, trainer George Blacker won't be aiming too high with the eight-year-old in the twilight of his career.
``He runs well every time in this type of race but he's not up to Launceston Cup standard,'' Blacker said.
``We'll try to win another one or two restricted-class races and that will do him. He's suited in 2100-metre races at Mowbray but unfortunately there's not enough of them.''
Jockey Stephen Maskiell said that Beven Heights was ``on his mark'' in benchmark 78 class.
``This was the right race for him,'' Maskiell said.
``They were nearly going to retire him after his run two starts ago (when near-last in the Longford Cup).
``But he showed a new lease of his life at his last start and he's gone on with it tonight.''
Highland Lassie, having her first try over the distance, was a gallant second, beaten only a neck, with Sandeep a respectable third at his first 2100-metre start.
Favourite Uboa, who is entered for next week's Hobart Cup, never looked a winning chance while running fourth.
Thompson again: Robert Thompson completed the feature double when he led all the way on Gee Gee's La Quita in the $30,000 Aceland Thousand Guineas.
The half sister to top galloper Geegees Blackflash will now tackle the state's two richest fillies' races, the Strutt Stakes and Tasmanian Oaks.
Young Brighton trainer Stuart Gandy thinks Gee Gee's La Quita ``will go all day'' and has the necessary class to win a classic.
``She's a very tough filly and just keeps improving,'' Gandy said.
``This is a pretty special win for us.''
Gandy prepares Gee Gee's La Quita for the state's leading owners, Paul and Elizabeth Geard, of Broadmarsh.
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