THE Joseph Jones stable will nominate Room Number for plenty of the autumn features after a spectacular win at Murrumbidgee Turf Club on Tuesday.
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Room Number ($3.10) justified her support with a barnstorming victory in the Iron Jack Maiden Handicap (1600m).
Room Number came from last, 15 lengths from the leaders, turning for home and flew down the outside to win by a half length.
The impressive victory came at just her third race start.
While many punters had given up on the filly's chances, co-trainer Paul Jones said he never gave up.
"I hadn't. The owners had dug the knives into Simon's back. I asked them to remove them after the race," Jones said with a laugh.
"The only thing that gave me hope was that the leaders had been tearing along so the backmarkers had to have a chance. Even if we thought she was too far back."
Jones, like all of the connections, was excited by the win and is keen to aim higher.
"She's got ability and is bred to stay," he said.,
"She might be a Wagga Guineas horse. We'll throw some noms in (for the autumn carnival) and see what happens.
"The autumn Oaks might be a bit early, she might be a winter Oaks filly. We'll wait and see."
Among the ownership in the filly is Murrumbidgee Turf Club president Geoff Harrison, who watched on from New Zealand, and director Mark Logan.
A purchase from the New Zealand Ready to Run sales, Room Number has been a work in progress, according to Jones.
"I wouldn't say she's a natural. Last prep she overraced a lot and we've had her in and out a few times trying to get her to settle," he said.
"We got her from the Ready to Run in New Zealand so she was trained to be a 200 metre horse. So to get her to settle has been a bit of a task but this time in she's been great."
Simon Miller rode Room Number to victory. The win came after third placings at her first two starts, at Canberra and Wagga.
Fellow Canberra visitor Dip Me Lid ($3.00) ran second, while the Kerry Weir-trained Bouddi ($26) was a half head away in third.
Wagga trainer Tim Donnelly enjoyed success with Jodhpur ($3.60) winning first up in the D&S Taber Electrical & Solar CG&E Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m).
With Pushkar scratched at the barriers earlier in the day, Donnelly and jockey Mathew Cahill had more success with his older brother as the four-year-old stormed down the outside for a strong victory.
Jodhpur claimed a gallant Mnementh ($6.50) in the shadows of the post.
Meantime, jockey Winona Costin came through unscathed after falling from Jarrah Road in the Australia Day Races At The MTC Maiden Handicap (1000m).
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