Jacks Ultimate Win in Group Two

Jacks Ultimate Fury (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) continued his purple patch of form at Bathurst on Saturday and was rewarded with his first stakes victory when taking out the Group Two Gold Chalice Final (1730m).

The three-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight won his Gold Chalice Heat (1730m) five days prior in a blistering mile rate of 1:51.9, and trainer Russell Jack was confident of another bold showing.

From his outside draw on the front row, Jacks Ultimate Fury was caught three-wide with cover early on before driver David Moran miraculously found the coveted one-one position following a Squirmish as race favourite Its Confidential galloped.

Jacks Ultimate Fury was able to enjoy an economical passage before he was asked to improve three-wide from the 400m, and he quickly loomed up alongside leader Hesitate. The two entered a duel down the straight, but it was the Kiwi-bred gelding that came out on top, running out a length victor.

The victory continued an impressive run of form for Jacks Ultimate Fury, who has won seven of his last eight starts, with his only defeat in that time coming when fourth in the NSW Derby Heat 3 (2400m) at Menangle last month.

Moran has done the steering behind the talented three-year-old in his last six outings and he said his charge is starting to mature, and he is tipping a bright future for the gelding.

“He’s a really nice horse, he’s a pretty progressive sort of fella,” Moran said. “He had a few manner issues earlier on in his career but he seems to have amended his ways and he is a pretty smart horse.”

Jacks Ultimate Fury hails from a rich pedigree, being the son of New Zealand champion sire Bettor’s Delight and out of Group One winner Major Reality, who herself is a half-sister to multiple Group One winners Ultimate Sniper and Ultimate Machete.

He was offered through Hollis & Robertson Equine Services’ 2023 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale draft at Karaka where he was purchased by Nathan Jack for $80,000.

He has gone on to win eight of his 12 starts to date, and has accrued more than A$95,000 in prizemoney.