Winner of the Listed MRC Blue Diamond Preview at two, four year-old Russian Revolution gelding The Instructor has had some lengthy spells in his career to date, but has been at his best since returning to racing this year and gave everything he had to cling on and win the $200,000 Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington on Saturday.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, The Instructor won brilliantly at his first runback from a spell at Moonee Valley last month for apprentice Jett Stanley and he kept the ride in this tougher assignment.
The Instructor led for home and gave a good kick, but was all out on the line in winning by a head in a pulsating finish.
“I know it’s not the biggest race of the day, or the year, but for me it means a lot, especially winning for Gai and Adrian who have supported me very much,” Jett Stanley said.
“I thought I was going to lose the ride as Gai doesn’t put apprentices on in Stakes races when they can’t claim.
“I had to convince her. It is my last day as an apprentice as I’ll be a senior the next day.
“I had done all the work, and she stuck solid and has stuck solid throughout.”
Jett Stanley is a regular at trackwork for the Waterhouse Bott stable and has done plenty of work with The Instructor, who can be his own worst enemy.
“This horse is very quirky, but I’ve been able to go in twice a week and gallop him and get him on song and ready for today,” Stanley said.
“He likes to go above himself because he knows he’s got the ability. It’s a huge thrill.”
A $230,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale purchase for First Light Racing/Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing from the Lyndhurst Stud draft, The Instructor has the overall record of six wins from 15 starts with prizemoney just shy of $600,000.
The Instructor is the best of three winners from three to race from placed Denman mare Right of Way, who traces back to an international family that bristles with US Black Type horses including Mixto, who was second in the recent Group I Dubai World Cup.
Right of Way had a filly last year by Better Than Ready and was then covered by another of the young Newgate sires in Wild Ruler.
Russian Revolution is priced at $33,000 this spring at Newgate.
