Jimmy Choux underlined the conditioning skills of Hastings trainer John Bary when he waged a length of the straight battle to win the $1 million New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton Park yesterday.
The well-built colt son of Thorn Park had an injury interrupted preparation heading into the Group One feature - not racing for five weeks - before lining up.
However Bary and his staff worked tirelessly to have the 3-year-old fit for a dramatic showdown with a quality field of age group rivals.
The winning task was made that more difficult when a heavy downpour 24 hours before the race turned the roomy Riccarton track into a heavy 10 rating.
The favourite was given an ideal on-the-pace sit by Jonathan Riddell and swept to the front quickly on the home turn, repelling first the determined challenge by Twilight Savings and then He's Remarkable for victory.
Jimmy Choux scored by a long neck over the fast closing He's Remarkable with a further half-head back to Twilight Savings (third).
"This time two years ago I was in Poverty Bay trying to chase my first training win and here I am today getting my first Group One win," said an elated Bary. "A bit of a laugh that this time two years ago I hadn't even had my first winner, which I got at Gisborne.
"It's pretty surreal, to be honest.
"This horse is just a pro. I was worried about missing a run heading into this race as he hadn't raced for five weeks but he just tries his heart out.
"That was a top class ride from Jonathan as we didn't cover a lot of extra ground and he's a really strong rider in a tight finish."
Jimmy Choux is the type of racehorse every owner wants - consistent and determined - posting five wins and five minor placings from 11 starts.
Riddell, a successful jumps jockey, said: "I can't say enough great things about this horse as I haven't ridden one like him. He just tries his heart out when he steps onto a racetrack."
While all honours were with the winner nothing could be taken away from the performance of He's Remarkable.
He's Remarkable settled well off the speed and made up a stack of ground in the home stretch confirming he is worth following when stepping up to 2000m and beyond.
Twilight Savings raced three wide in the middle of the field throughout the running and pounced on the leaders in the home stretch and was only over hauled in the closing 50m.
* Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers kicked off his assault on the 2010 New Zealand Cup Carnival in daunting style.
Myers trained an early treble winning the first three races on the card with Second Hope, Balaq and Macsmallpee.
Myers has a staggering strike rate when travelling his stable to the South Island racetracks and his runners clearly excelled in the heavy track conditions.
Racing: Guineas glory for Bary
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