Evergreen Lad Jets to Another Stakes Victory

Kiwi galloper Jetset Lad (NZ) (Elusive City), a Group 1 placegetter over 1200m, showed his versatility with victory in the Group 2 A$300,000 Evergreen Turf Brisbane Cup (2200m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Jetset Lad (NZ) victorious in the Group 2 Evergreen Turf Brisbane Cup.

Formally trained in John Wheeler’s New Zealand stable, Jetset Lad won five races in his homeland, including the Group 3 Taranaki Cup with placings in the Group 1 Railway Stakes, over 1200m, and Group 1 Thorndon Mile. He was relocated to ex-pat kiwi trainer Brian Smith in June 2014 to become a permanent resident in Queensland.

Placing third in his last start, the Group 3 Premier’s Cup, this is his third stakes win from his total of eight wins and has placed on a further 14 occasions.

“It was a great thrill,” commented Smith. “He has been a great horse over a long time and it was good to see him win a Brisbane Cup for the owners who live over here now.

“He won the Taranaki Cup a couple of years ago and won a big mile at the carnival last year so it’s a thrill to be able to add another big race at the carnival.

“He has pulled up well and will be looking forward to winning another good race with him. Now he is up in the weights he might have to travel to Sydney or somewhere like that but we will just see.”

Commencing from a wide barrier in a field of 13 horses, rider Paul Hammersley settled Jetset Lad mid-field before moving up to race outside the leader from the 1200m. On the turn for home he went to the front, warding off Sense of Occasion (Street Sense) who challenged in the final 200m, holding on for victory by a nose over Sense of Occasion and Epingle (NZ) (Pins) in third place.

The seven-year-old gelding has earned A$579,177 in prizemoney for his owners Mr CEJ Stewart and Mr CJW Stewart.

Bred by Stewart’s Racehorse Syndicate, the son of Elusive City was offered at the 2009 Karaka Select Sale by Goodwood Stud.

Jetset Lad is out of winning mare Jetset Lass (Jetball) who is a half-sister to stakes-winner Sky Frontier (Senor Pete), winner of a Singapore Group 3 race. He is from the family of dual Group 1 winner Perlin (Carnegie).

Earlier in the day kiwi three-year-old Werther (NZ) (Tavistock) was a close second in the Group 1 Queensland Derby as he rallied late after running into traffic from his inside barrier draw.