AS experienced race caller Mark McNamara watched Joeylew sprint down the home straight at the Bathurst Paceway on Wednesday night, he declared he was "in a race of his own".
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Given what the five-year-old from the stable of Dubbo trainer John Lew did in the TAB Odds and Evens Pace (2,260 metres), it was easy to see why McNamara made that statement.
Joeylew accelerated down the back straight and burned his rivals, going on to win by a massive 22.1 metres. He also clocked a career best mile rate - 1:59.0 - and made it three wins from as many starts this season.
It means bigger challenges against stiffer opposition lie ahead for the Roll With Joe x Missus Spruso gelding and while driver John O'Shea knows it will be tough, he also knows Joeylew is in good form at the moment.
"He tries hard, this was a fair bit better than his last run," O'Shea said, comparing Wednesday's effort to a 13m win over the shorter 1700m trip at Cowra 10 days earlier.
"So he seems to be on the up and if he keeps getting better, then he might turn out alright as a pony.
"He's improving but you never really can tell how they will go, the next step is big."
From barrier two, O'Shea wasted little time in guiding $3.90 chance Joeylew to the head of the field.
There was some slight pressure from Lord Denzel ($5), who started from gate one, but Joeylew soon took complete control.
Amanda Turnbull pushed forward with Betterthanred and sat alongside Lord Denzel behind the leader early on.
Joeylew covered the first half of the last mile in a steady 62.2 seconds to lead by a length, but when O'Shea urged Joeylew on at the 650m mark, no-one could go with him.
He led by five lengths into the bend, seven at the top of the straight and in the end was 22m clear of nearest rival, $2.80 favourite Manly Boy.
The slick victory took Joeylew's record to three wins and two placings from 12 career starts.
The fact those three wins and the two placings have come this preparation shows the kind of form the five-year-old is racing in.
Prior to this preparation, which started at Dubbo in mid-August, his best result had been fifth-placed finishes at his home track and Blayney.
The win was the only one for O'Shea on Wednesday night.
Ashlee Grives was the only drivers to achieve a double at the eight-race meeting, the trainer-driver winning with Crossfirehall ($2.80) and Grecian Holiday ($14) from the stables of Peter Trevor-Jones.