The talents of Jay Bee Gee (NZ) (Complacent) and his Hunterville owner-trainer Adrian Bull were clear for all to see at Riccarton on Saturday with a remarkable first-up victory in the Greenwood Amberley Cup (1600m).
The Amberley Cup was Jay Bee Gee’s first raceday appearance for 217 days. He was last seen during the New Zealand Cup Carnival at the same venue last November, where he finished eighth in the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) and 17th in the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m).
Bull gave the six-year-old two trials to prepare him for his return to racing in Saturday’s $40,000 open handicap, running third over 850m at Foxton on May 28 and winning a 1200m heat at Waverley a week later.
Punters expected a bold showing from Jay Bee Gee in a fresh state on Saturday and sent him out as the hottest favourite of the day at $2.40, and he did not let them down.
Rider Kelly Myers positioned Jay Bee Gee in second as Leitrim Lad (NZ) (Tavistock) set the pace. Jay Bee Gee was travelling easily coming up to the home turn, and he cruised up alongside the leader at the top of the straight.
Myers pushed the button with about 300m remaining and Jay Bee Gee quickly took command, pulling away from his six rivals to score an emphatic three-length victory.
Jay Bee Gee was bought by Bull’s son Harry for $26,000 at Karaka in 2019. The son of Complacent has now had 19 starts for five wins, four placings and $111,885 in prize-money.
Jay Bee Gee has proven himself to be particularly effective over Saturday’s distance of 1600m, recording four wins and two placings from nine attempts at that trip.
Bull may now give him a feature-race assignment over the same course and distance in the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) on August 3, for which the TAB has put him on the second line of favouritism at $10. He shares that quote with Spencer (NZ) (Derryn), while the favourite Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) is narrowly ahead of that pair at $8.
Saturday’s Amberley Cup also marked a welcome return to Riccarton for Myers, who is a three-time winner of the New Zealand Cup. She took out the time-honoured staying test aboard the Bull-trained Mungo Jerry (NZ) (Don Eduardo) in 2014, along with victories on Hoorang (NZ) (Zerpour) (2008) and Pump Up The Volume (NZ) (Savabeel) (2016). Her 60 winning rides at Riccarton also include the 2012 edition of the Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) with the Bull-trained Nashville (NZ) (Darci Brahma).
“When Adrian asked me to come down here today, I was very happy to make the trip,” Myers said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve ridden here, but it’s still one of my favourite tracks.
“He won very nicely today. I was a little bit worried coming into it, with him being fresh up on a very testing track, but he was just too good for them.”
