HE might have put the brakes on early, but when it came to the home straight in the Gold Chalice Consolation on Saturday night it was all accelerator from Jay Ok.
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While his heat of the three-year-old colts and geldings series did not unfold as he would have liked, Gavin Fitzpatrick executed perfectly in the gig in the 2,260 metres consolation.
He held the lead from barrier one with the $1.70 favourite, backed things off through a 32.1 seconds first quarter and set up Jay Ok for the sprint home.
And sprint home he did, clocking 27.2 for the final sectional to win by 9.4m over The Mustang ($17).
"He got back to last and they got home really quick [in his heat], it was the way it was. He would've held his own in the final," Fitzpatrick said
"I've got a really good opinion of him, he was unlucky in the Gold Crown consolation last year, so it was good to win this."
Meanwhile, the Gold Crown Consolation (1,730m) for two-year-old colts and geldings saw the closest finish of the evening as Radar Stride ($4) nudged out favourite My Buzz Lightning (Robbie Morris, $3.30) by a half neck.
Radar Stride's driver Anthony Butt did have some nervous moments as he found himself locked in three back on the pegs, but he was able to get space by ducking into the sprint lane.
"I was hoping to be in the trail, Robbie being in front I thought he might stay there, but Ricky [Alchin, Captain Crusader] came really quick and Robbie had no option but to hand up," Butt said.
"It wasn't ideal, but when Robbie came out turning for home, it sort of gave us a saloon passage through and we got there."
It was the first win for the Captaintreacherous x Sweet As Reign gelding and Butt is hopeful more will come this season.
"It's all pretty new to him. It was his third start tonight, I think he'll be better in another two-three months," he said.