Just Hope caused a boilover on Saturday night when taking out the Group 1 NSW Oaks, but reinsman Nathan Jack never had any doubts.
Just Hope was not given much of a chance by anyone outside of the stable after she finished third behind Amore Vita in her heat the previous week.
Different animal
However Jack believes that disappointing performance was down to a far from ideal build up to the heat when they only arrived in Sydney two days before.
And Jack says she felt like a different horse altogether in the final after becoming comfortable with her surroundings.
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“She felt as flat as a tack when she went out onto the track in the heat last week, but on Saturday night she felt as good as she ever has," Jack told reporters after the win.
"She is normally a good eater, but it took until Tuesday for her to eat up her dinner so there is no doubt the trip knocked her around a bit."
Blistering finish
Amore Vita was the hot fancy heading into the race with Madrid not far behind but Just Hope managed to upstage them both to grab the win.
Madrid was leading with 200metres to go but Just Hope produced a blistering late finish to win by three metres, with Amore Vita making up the podium to take third place.
"I just love this filly, she is the best horse we’ve got and she is as good as any of the other fillies. But the wide draw made it hard to think she could turn the tables on Amore Vita from the heat," Jack added.
