Governor Jujon seals another Group win

By Andrew Adermann

Governor Jujon has stamped himself as the state’s premier three-year-old after taking out Saturday night’s Group 2 Garrards South East Derby at Albion Park.

The market only wanted to be with the Grant Dixon-trained colt, starting a $1.40 hot favourite, before ticking off a comfortable two-metre victory in the feature race of the evening.

Breaking from the fifth gate, Dixon initially got caught three-wide early before making a move to join early leader Jenden Strike.

Last week’s South-East Oaks winner continued to set the pace for the majority of the 2,138-metre task, with Governor Jujon taking a comfortable sit in the one-one position.

Coming into the final corner, Dixon made his move three-wide around Jenden Strike and the Chantal Turpin-trained Blacksadance, in what looked a comfortable pace to the line for the Group 1 winner. 

Saturday’s win was Governor Jujon’s 15^th career triumph from 20 starts, adding to three second placings and more than $300,000 in prize money.

The trophy cabinet now includes a Group 1, three Group 2s and a Group 3.

Southern raider continues to dominate

NSW’s premier trainer, Craig Cross, had a day to remember north of the border, training a quintet of winners at the weekend’s feature meet.

Cross didn’t waste any time chalking up a win, with Roll One Over kickstarting the evening by taking out the opening event.

Last-start winner Cruz doubled the stable’s tally in the third event after taking out the Mr Feelgood Open Pace.

Facing a similar field to last week’s track record breaking win, the six-year-old gelding justified his short-price favouritism with a gutsy one-metre win over top Queenslanders Major Cam and Colt Thirty One.

Culture King and Galleons Victory rounded out the quintet of winners for Team Cross, and he says that his team will still be in the Sunshine State for more weeks to come.

“We’ve had a good week, the boys are doing a great job with the team that’s been sent up to Queensland,” Cross told National Trotguide post-race.

“Roll One Over has enjoyed his time up in Queensland, that was his third start there for a couple of wins and a third.

“They’ll all stay in Queensland for another week or two, and once they come home a few others will be sent up instead.”

It has been a mammoth seven days for the stable, with Cruz, Roll One Over and Culture King all winning the weekend prior to Saturday’s meet.

Queensland native and Cross stable driver Leonard Cain sat behind all four winners at the weekend.

Seven-day back-up proves a winner

The quick back-up can so often be the tonic for a winner, and Saturday night proved no exception.

Four horses who were victorious at the July 11 Albion Park meet backed up again at the weekend to claim back-to-back victories.

Of those horses, the aforementioned trio of Cruz, Roll One Over and Culture King all saluted for Craig Cross.

Justalittle Torque – a $2.50 favourite – rounded out the back-up double-up, taking out the Listed Fleur De Lil Ladyship Stakes for Wayne and Shane Graham.

The five-year-old mare was having only her third start this preparation, with a second placing to reigning Queensland Horse of the Year Colt Thirty One its only blemish.