Jungle Deuce brings up another G1 with Gold Bullion win
The people's puppy Jungle Deuce set some sort of record with his outstanding win in the Group 1 Gold Bullion final at Albion Park on Thursday night, notching up his second G1 victory in just 12 days.
The son of Barica Bale and Serena Fly High had the support of not only his connections but punters also, starting as a $2.60 favourite in the final from box two.
On a wet Albion Park surface, Jungle Deuce jumped cleanly and managed to sit behind early leader Louis Rumble heading around the first turn, taking the lead at the top of the home turn and holding off a late challenge from an incredibly brave runner-up in Kooringa Lucy by 1.5 lengths at the finish in a speedy 29.71.
He also managed to crack the quarter of a century for number of career victories, with the Jack Smith-trained chaser now having amassed $649,070 in prize money, thanks to the $200,000 winner's purse on offer from Thursday night.
Northern NSW trainer Mitch Northfield was understandably ecstatic with the performance of his chaser Kooringa Lucy to finish second, with seemingly a big year ahead in store for the daughter of Fernando Bale and Mitcharlie Mia.
Early leader Louis Rumble lost no admirers in a gallant effort to finish third for trainer Steve Kavangah, adding another impressive performance to his glittering resume, while Zipping Kyrgios ran fourth to make it a clean sweep for New South Wales.
Group 1 Gold Bullion final results
- Jungle Deuce – Jack Smith – 29.71
- Kooringa Lucy – Mitch Northfield
- Louis Rumble – Steve Kavanagh
- Zipping Kyrgios – Melinda Finn
- Orchestrate – Tony Brett
- Jagger Moves – Robert Jacobsen
- Do It – Jeff Britton
- Spotted Elk – Graham Hall