Outstanding colt Jacquinot added another Group One win to his resume when he was awarded Saturday’s Gr1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Sandown after a protest hearing.
Originally narrowly beaten in a driving finish by Gentleman Roy, Jacquinot was promoted to winner after a successful protest by rider Damian Lane for interference over the concluding stages.
While it was the not the way connections liked to win the first Group One race of 2023, they were content that the right horse was the winner after the objection.
It was the second win at racing’s elite level for the son of Rubick after he flew to beat star filly In Secret in last spring’s Golden Rose in Sydney.
JACQUINOT (Rubick x Ponterro) battles to the line in the G1 CF Orr Stakes to finish a short half head second after receiving interference from Gentleman Roy. The protest was UPHELD, handing the race to Jacquinot. Ridden by Damian Lane. (Photo by Bronwen Healy. The Image is Everything – Bronwen Healy Photography.)
Co-trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr said the win was an important success against the older horses and he would chase more weight-for-age success over the autumn.
“He’s a stud colt and that now gives him two Group Ones which is very important,” Price noted. “It was severe interference – it’s the stewards job to measure the margin lost and then to make a decision.”
Kent Jnr was impressed by the performance of the colt, a graduate of the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he was a member of the Coolmore Stud draft.
“He’s a super horse,” Kent Jnr commented. “The key was he jumped well and put himself in a good spot.”
“He’s beaten the older horses and now we have to work out whether to go to the Futurity or what we do – it was a massive win.”
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“I feel sorry for the connections of the other horse but as Damian said – he (Gentleman Roy) should never have won and it’s the right result,” Kent Jnr added.
Jacquinot’s rider Damian Lane was adamant the right decision was made by the stewards panel.
“Win them any way you can,” Lane said after the hearing. “But he should have won it out here so the right decision was made.”
“He’s just a really good horse.”
“He just takes a little bit to pick up, so when I found my run he was just getting into his work and when he copped that nasty bump I felt I had Gentleman Roy covered before that happened – so we have to beat him afterwards.”
“The horse has got a great will to win. He’s shown that he’s adaptable 1200 up to 1400 now so just a really good colt that knows where the winning post is.”
“Yeah for sure,” Lane added when asked if he was one of the better colts he’d ridden. “He’s certainly going that way.”
Jacquinot carries the Qatar Bloodstock colours after they, with partners including Widden Stud, secured an interest in the colt following his Golden Rose success.
The exciting colt is a five time winner from just 10 starts – four of his wins have been at group level.
Jacquinot is the only named foal to date for the unraced blue blooded Pierro mare Ponterro.
Ponterro is from the top producing and stakes performed Redoute’s Choice mare Pontiana. At stud Pontiana has produced quality stakes winners Inference, Dragon Leap and Illation.
Winner: Jacquinot
- Breeding: Rubick-Ponterro (Pierro)
- Breeder: Mr LP Maxsted
- Race: MRC CF Orr Stakes G1 (1400m)
- Passed for: A$90,000
- Sale: 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
- Vendor: Coolmore Stud (As Agent)
- Reserve: A$120,000
- Earnings: A$2,381,040
- Owners: Widden Stud Jacquinot, Qatar Bloodstock Ltd, Trilogy, Harbour Bloodstock, L P Maxsted, S Tuxen, P Allen, Mrs C Allen, G Hayes, Mrs H Hayes, G P I Racing, Bangaloe Stud, Double R, Lakefish, G1G Racing, Glenlogan Park, Greenhaven Park, Laurel Oak Jacquinot, P T Blair & Mrs A McDonnell
- Trainers: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) (Cranbourne)
