15 July 2019 | Tim Walker
Trainer Kristy Elson admits she’s still trying to get her head around the fact she’s a Group 1 winning trainer, following Jaspervellabeach’s win in the Choices Flooring-Golden Slipper (2130m) at Gloucester Park on Saturday night.
Under the guidance of Nathan Turvey, the Somebeachsomewhere colt led all the way in the $125,000 event and delivered Elson the biggest thrill of her career to date.
“It was pretty amazing,” Elson told TABradio of the win.
“I’ve been wanting it for a long time.
“We’ve had him set at that for a long time and I wanted it so bad.
“I nearly got a Group 1 with Cott Beach last year and I just missed that.”
Elson said she was never comfortable the whole way down the home straight, as the Justin Prentice-trained Major Martini closed in rapidly on Jaspervellabeach.
The win took Jaspervellabeach’s record to four wins and a second placing from his six career starts and added Saturday night’s feature to the Champagne Classic he won in April.
Elson said both Jaspervellabeach and Secret Operation, who was seventh in the Slipper, would head to the paddock and hoped the pair could come back even stronger as three-year-olds.
Meanwhile, Herrick Roosevelt was able to capitalise on a hot early speed in front to take out Saturday night’s Free-For-All event.
The five-year-old gelding worked his way to the front for Stuart McDonald, after Gary Hall Jnr elected to hand up the lead with race favourite Ideal Liner following the early speed battle.
Vampiro and Saying Grace delivered trainers Greg and Skye Bond a double on the card.
Vampiro, first-up since February, was given an almighty scare by veteran stablemate Our Jimmy Johnstone, but hung on to win by a head.
It was also a reassuring performance from Saying Grace, who scored his first win of his winter campaign following five winless runs to start it.
Tim Walker
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