Racing: Victory thrills brothers

Jurys Out provided farming brothers Douglas and Ken Duncan with a dream result in the listed $40,000 Savabeel 1600 at Awapuni.

The Faltaat gelding ran his rivals ragged in the hands of New Plymouth apprentice Vanessa Johnston, scoring by just under three lengths from Wingatui visitor Hustler.

The Duncans, who share the ownership with Foxton trainer David Haworth, are committeemen of the Marton Jockey Club, with Douglas, a vice-president.

"This would be one of my best moments in racing," said Douglas Duncan, a former successful amateur rider.

"This a great thrill in front of the home team. It's been an amazing 12 months really, and the year looks like it's going to get a lot better."

The Duncans not only have a rising star in Jurys Out, but hold Melbourne Cup aspirations with Australia-trained mare Vouvray.

"Trelawney Stud, operated by our cousin Bruce Taylor and his mother Faith, own Vouvray, but we've been in the racing ownership from the start, and the mare has given us some great thrills," he said.

"But to have her line up in the Melbourne Cup later this year will be the ultimate for us, and we intend to be there with a huge contingent from Marton.

"We've already been over a couple of times, but weren't on hand when she won last year's Queensland Oaks, her only raceday victory so far.

"But we saw her race in the Caulfield Cup followed by a third placing in the Mackinnon Stakes."

Vouvray, trained by Peter Moody, raced at the recent Sydney autumn carnival, with the Duncans in attendance again, and the mare was placed in three group one races behind the likes of Makybe Diva and Grand Armee, collecting $400,000 in stakes.

"She has just blown us away, and you can imagine how excited we are about the pending trip to Melbourne," Douglas Duncan said.

"Vouvray aside, Jurys Out has put us on a high today.

"David [Haworth] said they wouldn't see him for the dust on the better track conditions, and he was so right."

Jurys Out won his first two races in this campaign in progressive and premier quality company respectively, then finished third on debut in open class behind Lordship and Native Song in the Feilding Hotel Anzac Mile last month.

Rain on Anzac Day ruined the chance of Jurys Out, who still did not disgrace himself after leading the field up.

"Jockey Matt Cameron said the horse was all at sea on the bends, so he did well to fight on like he did," Douglas Duncan said.

Jurys Out was ridden on Saturday for the first time by Johnston, who registered her first black type victory in 62 career wins.

She had definite riding instructions for Jurys Out and followed them to the letter.

Jurys Out found the lead easily, but Johnston was told to kick away with 600m to run, and not stop riding.

It looked the winning of the race, but Johnston said Jurys Out was still galloping well within himself at the finish line.

"Nothing would have beaten him today ... he just loved that easy track."

- NZPA