Honest Warrnambool-trained galloper Jahan sealed a successful comeback from a career-threatening injury yesterday with an effortless win in the Penshurst Cup.
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The Symon Wilde-trained runner, which spent more than a year on the sidelines after injuring his off-front fetlock joint, beat Musee D’Model by four lengths, with Scaredymac five lengths away in third place in the $15,000 race. Jahan’s win was the third leg of four winners on the seven-race program for Irish-born jockey Eddie Creighton.
But the 31-year-old’s day turned sour when stewards suspended him on a careless riding charge for nine meetings after his ride on Hors La Loi in a maiden plate.
Creighton said he would not appeal the ban.
He will fulfil rides at Moonee Valley today and Warrnambool tomorrow before starting his suspension.
“It’s the first time that I’ve ridden four winners at a meeting,” he said. “It’s great to win the Penshurst Cup for the Wilde family, who have been good supporters of me since my family moved here three months ago.
“I’ve received wonderful support from various trainers in Warrnambool, including Aaron Purcell, Matthew Williams and Quinton Scott since we arrived here.”
Creighton predicted a bright career for Jahan after his win.
“I just had the perfect run in the race. The fast pace suited my horse. I reckon he will go through his classes,” he said.
“It was his first try over 2000 metres but that never presented a problem to him. To be honest with you he was very strong at the end of the 2000 metres.”
Bill Wilde, deputising for his son Symon, said the win opened up new horizons for the five-year-old.
“It’s great that we got Jahan back racing,” Wilde said.
“We thought his career was over when he injured his fetlock joint. They don’t normally come back from that sort of injury but he has and appears to be better than ever,” Wilde said.
“We’ll probably send him down to town now for a restricted race. ”
The win gave the Wilde family its fourth winner of the feature race at the once-a-year meeting, following Swift Encounter and Whelan (twice) .
Jahan provided the second leg of a winning double for the Wilde stable. It won earlier in the day with La Balkerine in a 1284-metre maiden plate.
