A change of tack on Industrialist Way brought out the best in the Dennis Yip Chor-hong-trained miler, who was at the centre of the biggest betting move of the day when backed off the map in the last.
Yip, who trained a double on the day, said the surge of late support that saw Industrialist Way's odds slashed and his odds cut in half from 20-1 into 9-1 in the final minute of betting was not stable-motivated. Yet Yip was not only refusing to take credit for the tip, he said the tactical switch from pushing Industrialist Way into races to patiently taking a sit was all down to jockey Brett Prebble.
"The jockeys before had probably thought he was too one-paced and think they need to have him close, but he was just getting used up," Yip said. "Riding him quieter today was a good decision."
Prebble - who had ridden Industrialist Way to a string of four consecutive third placings last season but had not won on the horse - admitted he was one of those jockeys who had fallen into the trap of thinking the horse didn't have the requisite turn of foot required to sit back in the field and win.
"When you ride him in trackwork, that's the type of feel he gives you - that he is heavy, dour and one-paced, he always feels like he is looking for further," Prebble said. "We had to change the way we rode him, we had never given him a chance to finish a race off, because I had that as the one way to ride him in my mind."
Prebble said some more patient rides by Andreas Suborics late last season had provided the template for yesterday's effort, in a race that played out perfectly from his midfield position.
"He really hit the line in those races for Subi, and we got some tempo for him to suit today," Prebble said.
The Australian jockey seems fully recovered from a back strain suffered in a barrier trial incident last Saturday, an injury that caused him to miss the first meeting of the season.
"After a false start it's great to be out there again," he said. "I've got great support from a lot of different stables now so I'm looking forward to the season ahead."
