Horse Racing

Foreteller produced a storming finish to win the David Jones Cup

Ace Sydney horseman Chris Waller enjoyed a confidence boost heading into the big spring majors in Melbourne today as his promising four-year-old Foreteller pulled out a hard-fought, last-to-first victory in the $125,000 Group 3 David Jones Cup (2000m) earning a shot at the 2011 Mackinnon Stakeslater in the carnival.

Drawn wide in gate 11, coming into nine with the Caulfield Cup Day Race 7 scratchings, imported Dansili gelding Foreteller worked hard in the 2011 David Jones Cup after finding themselves stuck out the back in the early stages of the staying showdown.

“The barrier that we drew today was always going to be very sticky,” winning jockey Corey Brown said.

Race favourite at Luxbet was Peter Moody’s Caulfield Cup fourth emergency Midnight Martini who jumped away evenly before getting caught up in traffic in the later stages.

Attempting to emulate her all-the-way win at the same track and distance last start, Michael Moroney’s gallant grey mare Platinum Passion set the pace at the front of the field in the David Jones Cup today.

They held an uncontested lead all the way to the top of the course, the rest of the field holding their positions as another Caulfield Cup emergency Lucky Eighty Eight settled well with Extra Zero followed by Midnight Martini in fourth.

With 500 metres left to run Platinum Passion was still the leader, Midnight Martini suffering bad traffic problems trying to get a clear run.

Then came Corey Brown and Foreteller up on the outside, storming home in a blistering late burst.

The eventual David Jones Cup winner swallowed them up in the final 50 metres, Foreteller winding up late and knocking out their rivals in a big win for Waller who had found the right race for his last-start Epsom Handicap seventh placegetter.

On the line Foreteller had a length to spare over the rest of the field with a pack bunching up in a photo for the placings.

The David Hayes-trained Extra Zero was eventually found to have finished second after sticking their head out from the inside with an unlucky Midnight Martini snaring third over a brave Platinum Passion.

“He was (awesome),” Waller said of Foreteller.

“I think the horse likes to be ridden quiet…the draw didn’t help as we had to go back to last.

“To Corey’s credit he didn’t panic.”

Waller named the $1 million Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day, Saturday October 29, as the next-up aim for the horse.

“He gets the 2000 metres and he can win races in Melbourne,” Waller said with a smile.

“A race like the Mackinnon would be great to be part of the carnival…he can win a race like this so we’ll head towards a race like that.”

Brown, who has had a quite season in Melbourne so far, was happy with how Foreteller was able to come back after losing ground trying to get around the bend.

“He’s a real tradesman, he’s tough,” Brown said.

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2011 David Jones Cup Results & Finishing Order