Racing: Jury's Out, the case is proved

You just have to love a story where someone buys a horse three times and ends up winning a group-one race after a whole lot of problems.

Dave Haworth spotted Jury's Out - winner of the Captain Cook Stakes on Saturday - when he saw the yearling walking around the Karaka sale ring and bought him for $18,000 on behalf of a Macau client.

A former polo player, Haworth had been breaking in and pre-training horses and working as a stock agent when he decided to take out a professional trainer's licence.

"I reasoned that there was no point in putting your name on the front gate and waiting for the phone to ring," he said.

"The best horses were at Karaka so you had to get there and buy the best you could for the money you had."

The horses Haworth bought for himself precluded him managing and preparing the Macau client's horses which finished their development with trainer Roydon Bergerson.

"The good ones went to Macau and the others were sold cheaply here and what was left was Jury's Out, who was found to be a wind-sucker and was barred from racing in Asia."

Haworth formed Taylor Bloodstock with Tony Lee and Douglas and Ken Duncan, and bought Jury's Out for $35,000 after one unplaced run at Gisborne.

"He was a very good horse, I was convinced of that."

Taylor Bloodstock ceased, and Haworth and the Duncan brothers bought Jury's Out from the company partnership.

"So, I suppose I've bought him three times."

Earlier in the week Haworth had problems securing a rider for Jury's Out and called Michael Coleman.

It was an inspired choice. Coleman had good reason to want to ride a terrific race for the Foxton trainer - he clearly remembers "slaughtering" Down Wind for Haworth in a race at Ellerslie a couple of years ago.

"Yeah, it was just one of those things. Harry [Noel Harris] won on him at Palmerston North the next start and I had a few dollars on him."

Coleman had Jury's Out parked outside the leader, but it was on Haworth's recommendation.

"I told Michael not to worry if that's where he ended up because the horse doesn't like racing tight among horses."

Coleman was impressed with his first ride on Jury's Out.

"He's very tough, he just kept giving."

Haworth and training partner Sarah, his wife, produced the quinella result when Rosina Lad edged Sir Slick out of second in the last few strides.

Leigh Valley looked a quick improver in finishing strongly into fourth and Arlingtonboulevard was spectacular in finishing fifth, 1.2 lengths from the winner after an even slower start than usual and completely running out of racing room late in the race.

Michael Walker produced a heady performance in the saddle, riding the big mare for luck as he had when she won from a similar backward position at Hastings two starts earlier.

Walker found Arlingtonboulevard the perfect run through the field from the home turn, but his luck ran out when he found himself blocked behind the winner, Sir Slick, on the inside and Rosina Lad three widths out.

The big wide open spaces of the Riccarton home straight will perfectly suit Arlingtonboulevard if she heads south to the $275,000 Coupland's Mile.

Both of Haworth's horses are by Faltaat and the trainer says The Foreman, also by Faltaat and the maiden winner of the race before the Captain Cook, will end up better that the other pair, which is a massive statement.