RACE caller Mitch Manners called it a “killer-punch move” and it definitely was when Redbelly Jack burned his rivals down the back straight at the Bathurst Paceway on Wednesday night.
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The bold move in the first of the 1,730 metre Soldiers Saddle heats was made by driver Nathan Xuereb with some 650m to travel.
Redbelly Jack quickly zipped four lengths clear thanks to a scorching 27 seconds sectional and the four-year-old had the legs to hold on after turning for home.
He finished 12½m clear of his nearest rival in a performance which will see the Rock N Roll Heaven x Jackpot Girl gelding as one to watch in next week’s semi-finals.
Xuereb, who was in the gig for his father, Londonderry trainer Michael Xuereb, said the aggressive move was not his first thought when guiding Redbelly Jack three-deep.
“At first when I initially pulled out I was just going to work my way to the death, but when I did come out, I could see the leader was about to put the brakes on and stack them up behind him,” the driver said.
“That’s when I decided to change my mind, he does have a good turn of foot, so I decided to go on with it.”
Earlier in the month Redbelly Jack had contested another of the Bathurst Harness Racing Club’s annual events – the Star Trek Series – and after winning his heat and placing fourth in the semi-final, ran a disappointing eighth in the decider.
But Nathan Xuereb learned from those three runs and the changes he and his father made certainly worked on Wednesday.
“In the other series I had to sit out on the sidelines due to a few things, but I got to sit on the sidelines and watch and see a few little things to improve on,” Xuereb said.
“We went home and studied the last series and made a few little gear changes and he’s just come back fresher and more determined.”
A late firmer, Redbelly Jack started third in the line of betting at $4.30, with Amanda Turnbull’s Dream To Share the $3.50 favourite and Bernie Hewitt’s Might And Main well supported at $3.90.
When the green light was given the speed was on, with Our Little Digger (barrier three) able to cross stablemate Might And Main (barrier one) to take the lead.
Redbelly Jack was positioned midfield through a 28.1 second opening quarter, but that soon changed.
As the bell sounded Our Little Digger led by a half length over Destiny Warrior, but as they entered the back straight, Redbelly Jack got clear and motored to the lead.
He went on to win in a 1:54.9 mile rate, with Dream To Share second and Double Encounter ($28.30) third.
