Bookkeeper stamped himself as the dog to beat in next month’s Group 1 Rookie Rebel following his outstanding all-of-the-way win in the $21,750 Listed Maidment Memorial at Sandown Park tonight.
Drawn perfectly in box 1, the even money favourite jumped straight to the front and was never challenged, holding General Destini ($20.90) throughout to score by 4¾ in 34.25 seconds.
Despite entering the race having been placed in 15 of his previous 17 starts and a winner of five of his seven starts in the red vest, trainer Glenn Dainton had reservations about his charge’s chances.
“The special event at The Meadows on Saturday night took a bit out of him and he usually likes his 7 or 9 days break between runs. But we thought we’ve got to have ago, especially after drawing box 1,” he said.
“The field was red hot and he didn’t jump all that well, but he found the front and held on. Once he gets in front he’s hard to beat, in fact I don’t think he’s been beaten when he’s found the front early.”
This trait has helped Bookkeeper establish a formidible record over the middle distance journey at the city tracks. He holds the first split records at both Sandown Park and The Meadows, and has a combioned record of 16 starts for nine wins and six placings.
It was Bookkeeper’s second feature victory at Sandown Park having won the Listed Middle Distance on TAB Melbourne Cup night in November, and has now won over $147,000 in prize money in his 43 start career. However Dainton has bigger plans for his rising three year old.
“We won’t do much with him now until the Rookie Rebel. We’ll keep him nice and fresh and make sure he’s at his best because he’s going to need to be – the field will be outstanding.”
The Rookie Rebel will be run at The Meadows on Saturday 15 February and carries a $75,000 first prize.
