Tough-as-teak three-year-old Explosive Jack captured a third Derby in Saturday's $500,000 Group 1 South Australian Derby at Morphettville, and he might not be finished yet.
The trophy cabinet that already houses the ATC Australian and Tasmanian Derbies may have to make way for a fourth if the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-stable press on to the Queensland Derby.
Afforded few favours in the run, Explosive Jack took the lead shortly after rounding the home turn.
With John Allen in the saddle, the son of Jakkalberry kept up a relentless gallop to defeat stablemate Let's Karaka Deel (Dundeel) by two and a half lengths with Nobel Heights (Fiotente) the same distance back in third.
It was the fourth win in the race in the past six years for Allen.
Explosive Jack advanced his record to five wins, a second and a third from eight starts with earnings of $1,735,730.
"I didn't think there was much between them, but I thought Jack was probably a little bit stronger," Maher said.
"The other horse (Let's Karaka Deel) when he furnishes will be a really nice horse as well.
"It was a great ride by Johnny and a super job by the team to get both these horses here in this order.
"He's a tough horse. That term probably gets used loosely, but he's got a great temperament, and the team has managed him really well.
"He's been to all our locations, and you never know, he might end up in Queensland yet.
"We will see how we go, but he certainly did not seem to be slowing down today."
Purchased by Moody Racing for $100,000 out of the Novara Park draft at the 2019 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale, Explosive Jack was the third most expensive of the 24 yearlings from the first crop by the ill-fated Jakkalberry (IRE).
A half-brother to Pick Number One (Darci Brahma), the Champion Griffin in Hong Kong in 2017-18, Explosive Jack is out of Extra Explosive.
A daughter of Darci Brahma, Extra Explosive won the Listed Castletown Stakes. She is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Explosive Dance, the dam of the Group 1 NZ Derby winner Vin de Dance.
A colt by Time Test out of Extra Explosive was purchased for $65,000 by Benner Racing at the Karaka Yearling Sale.
Extra Explosive has a filly fol by Staphanos (JPN) and was covered by Sweynesse last spring.
