KEVIN Forrester produced a brilliant front-running ride on Stawell stayer Mujadale to land the 2014 listed $200,000 Sportsbet.com.au Ballarat Cup.
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The 53-year-old Ballarat jockey claimed his hometown feature from Darren Weir-trained runner-up At First Sight and Peter Moody's Fat Al.
There was some pre-race drama when Robert Smerdon-trained favourite Spinderbella was scratched at the gates before the start.
WINNER'S CIRCLE
THE TRAINER
Mujadale's front-running victory was Paul Jones' first at listed level.
"This is I suppose the biggest (win). I haven't won a listed race before and I've only had a couple of runners (in them)," Jones said.
"This horse and Cocoa Tycoon I think are the only horses that I have had that I could run in listed races.
"He's been a great horse, but he hasn't been an easy horse. He's fairly highly strung and what not, but we have persevered and taken him along slow and we are reaping the rewards now."
Jones said he headed to the races confident with the last-start Ararat Cup winner and was pleased when the track firmed up towards the end of the day.
He praised the ride of Forrester, who rolled forward from the barriers to lead the field passing the winning post the first time and was never headed in a convincing 3.3-length victory.
"That's why I went for Kevin at Ararat. I just wanted someone that could rate the horse properly and give him every chance," he said.
"He did a super job at Ararat because he had never sat on the horse before. Kevin has taken that much confidence and knowledge out of it and look what he has done today. He has rated the horse to perfection and he has been too good for them."
A 2600m listed race at Werribee on December 14 is the next target for the son of Mujahid, with the listed Bagot Handicap, 2800m, at Flemington on New Year's Day another future aim.
Jones is also looking towards a race like the listed Mornington Cup, 2400m, in March next year, should things go well, with victory there earning him a spot in the 2015 group 1 Caulfield Cup, 2400m.
"The horses he was beating last year have won the Geelong Cup, have run in the Melbourne Cup and I think he is probably better this year than he was last year," Jones said.
"I can't see why he won't be just as good next year, baring bad luck.
"There is no other races to run him in. He's at that stage, so what do you do? You might as well have a throw at the stumps and see what happens."
THE JOCKEY
KEVIN Forrester said winning the Ballarat Cup "meant a lot".
"Ït gives me status," said the much travelled Forrester, who returned to live in Ballarat earlier this season to work for the stable of Barry and Glen James after spending three decades riding around Australia.
"Ït puts me back on the map."
Forrester said he was always confident about Mujadale's chances.
"Ï thought he'd win."
And this is the way he rode the seven-year-old.
He took him straight to the lead from barrier five and allowed Mujadale to stride along - opening up a lead as a much as four lengths down the back straight.
While the margin did close up turning into the straight, Mujadale responded to vigorous riding by Forrester.
It turned out to be a little too vigorous, with stewards imposing two $1000 fines on Forrester for over-use of the whip.
THE OWNER
FOR Dunkeld-based Ballarat Cup winning owner Maurice Noske, winning the race meant so much more than simply having his name listed first as owner.
The sheep farmer bred Mujadale from a foal seven years ago after Noske was given its mother (Newdale) by two late friends.
The seven-year-old gelding was the first foal from Newdale and Noske has witnessed nearly every step of itS life.
"They gave it to me about eight years ago and this is the first foal out of her, they are watching from the heavens today," Noske said.
"It's not the first time he's won a nice race but each race gets better, each win seems to get better."
Noske has been a farmer in Dunkeld for decades and says he credits his success to his background in sheep farming.
"I had a merino stud in the 70s, 80s and 90s but wool become unprofitable, but a lot of the principles of bringing rams up to a ram stale are the same as with horses," he said.
With a tight grip on the Ballarat Cup trophy after the race, Noske said celebrations would remain low key.
"We might just head home to Dunkeld, we've got a couple of young boys, a seven-year-old and four-year-old with us," he said.
"We might have a nice, flash barbecue tomorrow."