Cheap purchase lands rich Classic

By Michael Howard (HRV)

A tip from the best in the business led to a paddle going in the air to make a surprisingly cheap purchase, a succession of events that paved the way for a tremendous return for Nathan Jack at Tabcorp Park Melton last Saturday night.

The reinsman paid just $3000 to secure Violet Stanford, a two-year-old trotting filly by Volstead out of Mingara, who produced an early payday in the $50,000 Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic final.

“I can’t take much credit for this one,” Jack told TrotsVision. “Clayton Tonkin told me it was a good type, it was in the ring and couldn’t get a bid.

“When Clayton Tonkin says he likes one you sort of have to listen. They were about to knock (the sale) down, it hadn’t had a bid and they were about to get it out of the ring, I just put my hand up, they said $3000.

“(Clayton) said they wouldn’t have sold it, they passed it in. I said, ‘nah, they took my bidding number’. He said ‘you’re kidding’.

“It turned out the bloke that bred it (Bruce Phillips with Kerrie Lee) was the bloke who helps us out a lot. I didn’t even know because I didn’t look at the catalogue to be honest with you.”

While the horse may have gone under the notice of many at her Bathurst sale, she had since impressed her trainer and Jack’s enthusiasm was only added to tonight when she improved her record to two wins from as many outings.

It was a largely uneventful win, with Violet Stanford holding the front from gate one, seeing off a modest challenge by fellow heat winner Third Eye who then galloped out of contention.

David Aiken’s well rated Maoris Mac flirted with a challenge late but Jack’s lead was never in doubt and he held on to score by 4.2 metres.

“Quite a nice filly, very inexperienced but great action and a great gaited filly,” Jack said of Violet Stanford. “Hopefully a big future. She’s quite a strong filly but she’s exceptionally fast.

“She hasn’t shown the speed that she’s shown me at the races because she’s not concentrating 100 per cent yet.”