Stefan Vahala celebrated the biggest win of his young training career and Steven Parnham his 1001st victory when Jedi Dream produced a pulsating, final-stride success in the Listed $500,000 Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.
Jedi Dream ($41) and Parnham, who had celebrated his 1000th winner earlier on when Street Band ($10) saluted, had a mountain to climb with only three runners behind them nearing the home turn of the Placid Ark.
But the daughter of Cosmic Force made up ground hand over fist over the final 100m to challenge Gaintree ($17), who had finally mastered early pacesetter Anaconda Jones ($41).
In the very final bound, Jedi Dream dove at Gaintree to collect the verdict by a nose, while One Last Resort ($3.40) – who endured a chequered run – collected third prize.
Vahala had been involved in nose decisions seven times this year and on the wrong side in six of them.
But alongside Vatican Storm’s Raconteur Stakes win in June, he’s saved the right times to get the nod.
“Just amazing. I thought we came second over the line and then to get that result, I had to run back out and hug the family,” Vahala said.
“We were heading towards the Champion Fillies’ and when she didn’t run out the 1400m, we decided we better back her up into a 1200m.
“I could see at the top of the straight when Stevie asked her, she was letting down.”
Despite being a longshot, Jedi Dream had flagged promise when fourth in the Karrakatta Plate earlier this year.
“Her run in the Karrakatta was huge,” Vahala said.
“We knew that she had a wicked turn of foot. She probably should’ve won first-up over 1000m but then we just got it wrong and had to come back to the 1200m.
“We’ve had probably 100 placings this season, so to get one over the line and it to be a big one is fantastic.”
The three-year-old now looms as a potential starter in next fortnight’s Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).
“I’d say if she pulls up well - I’ve never had a runner in a Group 1 so it probably pushes it a little bit – but that was only her third run (for the campaign) so you’d think she would and you only get these chances every now and again,” Vahala said.
Only 40 minutes earlier, Profit Motive ($1.70f) had continued her victorious reign when landing the Group 3 $300,000 WA Champion Fillies’ Stakes (1600m)
She rode a hot speed and lasted the distance to score by three-quarters of a length over Ruthless Angel ($21).
Initially, it had been scheduled for Jedi Dream to contest that race but Parnham said the winner’s presence contributed to the change of plan.
“We thought she didn’t quite run the distance out as strong as we’d hoped and with Profit Motive being as promising as it showed, we thought diverting back to the 1200m might offer her, her best chances of winning a race like this,” he said.
“She was mighty today.”
The bay would carry only 51.5kg in the Winterbottom, a demanding task for Parnham.
However, he insists he would make the weight.
“I can do it. I’ve done it before,” he said.
“I’ll see what the owners want to do and if it’s going that way, you only get one chance at it.
“I like to never die wondering. Don’t live with any regrets.”
Later, Awesome Boy ($10) booked his place in next week’s Railway Stakes with a dashing all-the-way win in the Group 3 $200,000 R J Peters Stakes (1500m).
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