Derek is a jet on debut

Well bred three-year-old trotter Derek The Jet (Volstead) scored an impressive harness racing win on debut in the Aldebaran Park Luna Lass 3YO Trotters Classic at Melton.

Sent out a heavily supported $1.85 favorite, the Nathan Jack trained and driven youngster left the mobile slowly but safely and settled 30 metres off the leader Rocky Valley.

Jack pulled Derek The Jet out to stake his claim with 500 metres to travel and the son of Volstead lengthened stride in the home straight to score running away by two and a half metres from Pinnie with Rocky Valley a neck away third.\

Jack was suitably impressed with the way Derek The Jet handled his racetrack debut.

“I love him,” Jack said.

“He’s like a big baby, he’s wayward and it’s a big ask to come to town first up and while they weren’t the strongest ones the leader has good ability and the Pinnie had been racing against open class horses,” he said.

HE REALLY IS A JET!
Trainer-driver Nathan Jack has high hopes for Derek The Jet and he showed his class with an impressive debut victory in the Aldebaran Park Lunar Lass 3YO Trotters Classic! 🛫 pic.twitter.com/eFNf5umnTo

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) February 24, 2024

Jack believes there is plenty of improvement in the winner.

“He’s a cracking horse, we had to hose him and walk him around because he was shaking and couldn’t gear him up until 15 minutes before the race,” he said.

“So he’s got a lot of upside and I do think he’ll be a serious horse one day; I don’t know when but one day.”

Jack said Derek The Jet’s immediate mission is the Nutrien Sale Race Series at Melton in early April.

“He’s main aim will be the Nutrien in about six weeks and we’ve got a few creases to iron out before then,” he said.

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink