Jet flies high to fend off Waller squad | Just horse racing

The weight of the numbers was not in their favor but Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott defied the odds to win the opening race at Warwick Farm with the lightly ridden three-year-old Jet.

In a field of eight, Jet was the only horse not prepared by Chris Waller and he showed grit and determination to fend off the champion trainer’s army of rivals, beating Snitzel Miss by half a head.

Thwarted by heavy spurs in his maiden campaign by star stallion Zoustar, Jet took advantage of his first effort at Canterbury to take the lead in Wednesday’s Brave Smash at Yarraman Park Plate (1300m).

“He was there to get hit and I thought maybe he was on the furlong,” Bott said.

“He really dug deep and kept finding and that’s always an encouraging sign.

“He is open to a lot of improvement today and I think he will go a little further, 1400 meters and possibly 1600 meters.

“It’s a great time of year for him during the summer to take advantage of the conditions and get through his grades.”

The jockeys taking part in the opening race wore black armbands in honor of the victims of the Bondi Beach shooting.

Winning hooper Tim Clark said his thoughts and deepest condolences went out to those affected by the tragedy.

“I would like to say on behalf of the jockeys that we are wearing the black armbands in support of the Bondi victims, so our condolences to all their families,” Clark said.

The opening event was marred by a mid-race incident in which student Siena Grima was driven from her horse, Ichiban Koji, who suffered a suspected heart attack.

Grima walked back to the jockey’s room unassisted, but was kept from her remaining rides as a precaution.

The promising young jockey recently transferred her contract to Waller’s Rosehill stable, where the pair recorded their first win together as master and apprentice when Full Hao was successful at Rosehill on December 7.

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