Ross Creek trainer Paul Rowse will give Decorated Jasper his next run in the $125,000 PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup on Saturday, January 28.

The group 1 Ballarat event has long been a top priority for Decorated Jasper this campaign.

His prospects of playing a major hand in the cup rose significantly, though, with his all-the-way victory at Bendigo.

Decorated Jasper ($3.10 favourite) scored by two metres from Villagem ($6.50), with Captain Joy ($10.70) third. He rated 1:57.3 for 2650m after running the last 400m in 27.6 seconds.

Rowse, who is also Ballarat and District Trotting Club chief executive officer, said it was a huge thrill “for the whole team” to finally capture a group race with Decorated Jasper.

The home-bred nine-year-old has won numerous free-for-alls and contested an Inter-Dominion Pacing Championship series, but until Saturday night had never done better than minor placings in group company.

Everything went to plan for Rowse and driver Jodi Quinlan.

Decorated Jasper led from the pole and from there was able to dictate terms, making it sit-sprint.

Rowse said it was all go now for the Ballarat Pacing Cup.

“He’s pulled up a treat,” he said yesterday.

“We jogged him this morning and he’s as fresh as a daisy.”

Decorated Jasper has won 25 of 79 starts for $344,000 in stakes.

He continues the excellent run of Ballarat pacers in the Bendigo cup, with Sting Lika Bee winning the feature event in 2006-07 and Safari in 2007-08.

Each also won the Ballarat Pacing Cup in distinguished careers.