Clear Mountain Fairview’s Group II BRC Queensland Guineas winner Jabali is on the board with his first winner with only his second runner as the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Jabali Ridge was a dominant winner of The Arbour Plate (1000m) at Flemington.
One of 32 live foals from the first crop of his sire, Jabali Ridge was among the favoured runners following his narrow first-up defeat to Conceited at Flemington on December 14.
Ridden by Jye McNeil, Jabali Ridge sat close to the speed and when asked the question lengthened impressively to defeat Chris Waller’s royally-bred Frankel filly Hungry Heart by two lengths with Lindsay Park’s Written Tycoon colt Yulong Progress a long-head back in third. back in third.
"I thought that was a really professional win by him," McNeil said.
"He had obviously had the experience down the straight last time and he was game in defeat. Today I thought he was quite dominant.
"I think that experience and having the run under his belt really helped him today."
Stable representative Mick Nolan said the son of Jabali is likely to press on this campaign.
It’s a big thrill for the owners who had Jabali and I think they bred this horse and it is one of the owners birthday today so it’s a double celebration, Nolan said.
“He’s a real tradesman, a good little two-year-old. He went good first up and probably got beat by a very handy horse.
“A bit of race experience always helps down the straight. He had a week’s break after his last run and has come back and improved. His work was good and he has raced up to his work.
“Knowing Mick Price this horse will press on (to something better) because he is an in form two-year-old, is sound, has no issues and is a very sensible horse and is a very good doer. It’s up to the horse himself but I can’t see any reason not to press on.” 
Passed in when he failed to make her $30,000 reserve at the 2019 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, the homebred is the first foal of the Not A Single Doubt mare Single Princess who didn’t trouble the scorer in five starts although she placed twice at Strathalbyn.
There is a noticeable lack of winners under the first three dams so a Flemington winner adds quite a bit of lustre to the pedigree.
Single Princesses granddam Star Billing (Quest For Fame) is a half-sister to Group III Goodwood Select Stakes winner Triarius and the Listed Newmarket Fred Archer Stakes winner Sharp Noble.
Single Princess has a yearling colt by Fighting Sun and was covered by Jabali again last spring.
The only other runner for Jabali is Blushed who finished third on debut on Friday at Launceston.
After beginning his career at Telemon Thoroughbreds, Jabali was transferred to Clear Mountain Fairview.
The son of Exceed And Excel won just one race, the Group II BRC Queensland Guineas, but he was a top-class 2yo finishing runner-up to Earthquake in Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes and runner-up to Rubrick in Group III Blue Diamond Prelude.
He covered 27 mares last spring at a fee of $4950.
