THOROUGHBRED

JIMMY CHOUX took out the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Spring Classic at Hastings on Saturday once again showing how much class he has.

He didn't have all his own way and after a good start he took a position handy to the lead on the fence, as the leaders moved forward JIMMY went from one back on the fence to three back at the 1200 meter mark, with a slowish pace a lot of punters would be forgiven to start getting a bit worried. He was angled out at the top of the straight but had a wall of horses in front of him, the gap came but RED RULER who had led them up had stolen a break on the field and shot away to put 4 lengths on them. What have you got JIMMY and he had plenty, it took him a little while to wind up but he charged RED RULER at the 200 meter and went away to win easily by 1 3/4 lengths. Come on the Cox Plate. It was a dead heat for second with RED RULER fighting right to the line and a great finish from HOLD IT HARVEY saw him come from well back on the turn to finish brilliantly up the inside. The 2040 meters was run in 2.06.24.

JIMMY CHOUX is a 4 year old entire by THORN PARK - CIERZO, trained by John Barry he was ridden by Jonathan Riddell.

John Bary, " Wasn't bad was it, I've got to be honest I was a little bit worried what Jonathan was up to five or six back and giving RED RULER 4 lengths start but he knows the horse, knows the finish on the horse, I'm just glad he's done what he has done. I said to Jonathan don't worry, if it turns into a speed dual sit back don't get involved in that, he's just read the race that way. Throw a shrimp on the barby, tell the Aussies we'll be over in two weeks."

Jonathan Riddell," I had the horse outside me at the 600 and didn't want go round, I didn't think the horses in front were going to cart me into the race and I could see RED RULER, I new Chad would be quite positive on him today, didn't think he would be that positive so full credit to Chad, when I saw him creeping away I thought oh no but once I did get the split it was pretty effortless for the horse, he is just coming and doing bigger steps all the time. What can we say about the horse, there was quite a bit of pressure coming into today and the expectations on him to be winning it because of the form on paper but he does it so easy."