When Mat Rue and Karloo Damajor made their move in the Orana Wool and Scrap Metal Dubbo City Cup (2525 metres) on Easter Saturday, there were few people more pleased than Isobel Ross.
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Sitting happily at the back of the field with the Amanda Turnbull-trained Jonah Jones (NZ), the former Brisbane driver watched on as Karloo Damajor surged forwards, forcing his rivals to raise the tempo.
Bradness Eldefuego (Mitch Turnbull, $5.50), Royal Story (Bernie Hewitt, $2.15 favourite) and Karloo Damajor ($3.90) flashed neck and neck past the post as the final bell rang out.
But Ross held her nerve, waiting until the final turn to make her move after the Bradness Eldefuego and Royal Story pulled a length clear of the pack.
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Jonah Jones showed a remarkable turn of foot, darting from the back of the field with 400m remaining to win by 4.1m in a mile rate of 2:01:8.
"He went super," Ross said.
"Going into the race I was confident with him, because he went good at Menangle last start ... I knew once they put the speed on we were probably there, right in the finish.
"It probably helped that they put the speed on halfway through the race for him. The race was run for him but he still did let down really nice.
"Definitely, he's a sit-sprint horse. He hasn't been in front much, he does prefer to come from behind."
Trainer-driver Turnbull and Jonah Jones (NZ) had an impressive run in their last start at Menangle, the McArdle (USA) x Jarntimarra (NZ) gelding finishing second behind Lovin Miss Daisy and her winning mile rate of 1:53:7.
Saturday was only Ross' third time combining with the black gelding, and their second podium finish after a third at Menangle in February.
"Tonight's probably the first time he's gone really good for me so it's a bit special," Ross said.
"Amanda and Jen [Turnbull], he's been a really good horse for them. Jenny owns him and he's just been a very consistent horse for them.
"You'd just love to have 10 of him in the stable."
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Originally from Brisbane, Ross only joined Turnbull's stables late last year but already feels at home at the country tracks of the Central West.
"I love it. I love being in Sydney and I love Bathurst ... it's been really good and I've had a lot of luck with her horses," Ross said.
"These little country tracks, you know we don't have those in Queensland and I really enjoy coming to them.
"It's a great atmosphere and just great people too."