The form guide certainly didn't read positively for Detonator Jack's chances in the VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) but a combination of factors saw the seven-year-old son of Jakkalberry (IRE) find his best.
Winless in 952 days prior, Detonator Jack failed to beat a runner home the start prior in the David Bourke Handicap but improved sharply third up to take Saturday's Listed mile feature by a short neck over Freedom Rally ($31) with ¾ of a length back to Just Folk ($15) in third.
Sent out a $20 chance under John Allen, Detonator Jack notched up his first victory since winning the A$1million The Gong at Kembla Grange in November 2023 and assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said the stable had used a myriad of training methods to recapture his old form.
"There were a lot of elements of the race today that worked for Jack in the sense of fitness, he was third up, blinkers were on, we got a nice cut in the ground and we drew low," Turnbull said.
"Still a little bit hesitant whether or not he wanted to be there or not, but credit to the whole team, we've been playing around them at home, treadmill, jumping, different track gallops, just trying to rejuvenate him and we got it done.
"Treadmill training was a big factor, Track Kat (Katrina Anderson) had a bit to do with him there, and we've just schooled him down at Cranbourne.
"Obviously it's been a long time between drinks, but we've kept saying that at home he's wanted to be there, and he wants to do it, we just hadn't seen it race day.”
Turnbull also noted the specific booking of John Allen who rode the horse to victory three times early in his career, albeit Allen said he was skeptical of the horse being able to turn his form around so quickly.
"He's always had good ability and he's obviously won better races than today," Allen said.
"I was very skeptical looking at his run the last day. I thought it was very plain, but Ciaron said he'd changed a few things up during the week and done a bit of schooling with him and stuff, just trying to sharpen him up and it's certainly done the trick."
Bred by Craig Dunphy and his wife Steph, Detonator Jack is a son of the late Jakkalberry and the No Excuse Needed mare Red Delicious, who is also the dam of the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) winner Madison County.
Detonator Jack races for Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock, which was previously owned by Darren and Liz Dance and sold earlier this year to Stephen Everett and Tash Blakley’s SCT Syndications.
Darren Dance was involved in the ownership of the international top-flight winner and Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) placegetter Jakkalberry, who retired as the foundation sire at Luigi Muollo’s Novara Park in 2014, but sadly succumbed to an intestinal infection four years later.
Detonator Jack was purchased privately by Dance following a recommendation by Mike Rennie to secure the previously Mark Brooks-trained galloper. – NZ Racing Desk
