Young jockey Angela Jones achieved her biggest thrill in the saddle to date as she steered the Tony Gollan-trained Zarastro to victory in the Group 3 Healy Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
Sent around as a $9 chance with leading horse racing bookmakers, Angela Jones made great use of the five-year-old gelding’s early speed and managed to hold out race favourite Ghaanati as the pair fought for ascendancy early on.
Despite seeming to burn up a few extra tickets to find the lead, Zarastro was travelling as well as any runner approaching the home turn, and despite having a wall of challengers with 200m to go, Jones managed to get the most out of her mount to go on and score in impressive fashion.
Ghaanati would stick on gamely for second, whilst Hatchet came screaming home along the inside to fill the trifecta at a big price.
2024 Group 3 Healy Stakes – Zarastro
Despite winning plenty of Queensland’s feature races, Zarastro’s win handed trainer Tony Gollan his first triumph in the Healy Stakes.
“He was really good today. I was pretty adamant after his last start here that we had to change a few things up,” said Gollan.
“I was really keen to go the 21 days into today with him. He puts a big effort into his races and his racing pattern, I want to give him that little bit of extra time between runs.
“I just knew the last 10 days coming here today he was right on song. She (Angela Jones) rated him really well today.
“I spoke to Ange this morning, I felt we might have been asking a bit much of him his last few, she was able to really keep him under wraps today and he was so strong through the line.”
A week on after claiming the Listed Ipswich Cup on Red Wave, Angela Jones ticked off another major milestone with her maiden Group triumph.
“It’s such a thrill, and to do it on him and for Tony, it just couldn’t have worked out any better,” said a jubilant Angela Jones.
“Tony’s my biggest supporter so thank you, and all the Zarastro owners for keeping me on him and being happy to stick with me.
“Also my manager, he does a terrific job. I know it’s a hard time to be a manager of a local jockey, but he’s done a super job throughout the carnival so it’s a big credit to him.”
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