After missing the kick, Croix De Vie gave his rivals a headstart, but took all the short cuts win the Bedrock Landscape Supplies Benchmark 70 Handicap (1400m).

Stable representative Matt Jones wasn’t surprised by the start, but his passage through the race certainly raised some eyebrows.

“He is always a little slow out,” Jones said.

“He’s a back marker so we weren’t too concerned but instructions were to sit five wide with no cover so he goes and work him into the race and he goes up the rails and smashes them.

“We won anyway so it was all good.”

Croix De Vie has been a model of consistency with three wins, a third and a fourth in his last five starts.

Jones believes keeping him at the 1400 metres has been the key.

“We keep him fresh over 1400 metres all the time,” he said.

“You think he’s a miler but every time we put more work into him he just races dour so we give him a week off here and there, ride him probably twice a week, if that, keep him fresh and away he goes.”

After being up for sale last year, the Jones stable is more than happy the deal for only $5000 fell through.

Since then he’s won more than 20 times that much.

“We had one lady who wanted to buy him in Brisbane or up north there and it fell through,” Jones said.

“I’m glad.

“I wonder if she still watches him as she would be kicking herself.”