JUMPS jockey Adam Roustoby combined with the Patrick Payne trained jumper Speedy Jax to score a thrilling victory in a $75,000 open steeplechase at Casterton on Sunday.
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The New Zealand-bred Speedy Jax hung on to defeat Ascot Red by a neck with Pentomatic, a nose away in third place in the feature race on the program.
The win was Roustoby's first success from 30 rides over the jumps after starting his jumping career in New Zealand.
"It's a massive thrill to ride my first jumps winner, especially for Patrick who has been a big supporter of mine," he said.
"I had a few rides in jumps races in New Zealand before coming back home. I thought coming to the last fence I could win as I thought I had Pentomatic covered but over the concluding stages I could hear one coming home hard.
"I'm just glad the finishing line was so close. I usually go up to Patrick's stables at Rockbank twice a week to school horses over the jumps after riding work for Gai Waterhouse at Flemington."
From 13 jumps starts Speedy Jax has won three races.
Break And Enter trained by Warrnambool trainer Matthew Williams hung on to beat Barry The Baptist and Bling Dynasty in the $45,000 Casterton Cup.
The lightly raced five-year-old has won his last two starts at double figure odds.
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