Jukebox jets to big victory for father-and-daughter team

By Jordan Gerrans

Hobby trainer Jeff Regazzoli broke a lengthy winning drought on Monday evening at Redcliffe and was elated to share the victory with his daughter.

The Caboolture-based Regazzoli prepares his small stable alongside his daughter Racheal Stanton.

The team of Regazzoli and Stanton have stuck by gelding Jukebox Jet after a few winless seasons but the eight-year-old repaid their loyalty on Monday around ‘the Triangle’.

Jukebox Jet’s victory this week was his first since late June of 2021.

Coincidentally, the last time the gelding landed the prize was the night the Regazzoli stable purchased the pacer.

He won for former trainer Ron Sallis and driver Lachie Manzelmann on that occasion at Redcliffe before being transferred into Regazzoli’s name.

“It was good, we enjoyed it as it was a long-time coming,” the trainer said of Monday’s breakthrough performance.

“It was excellent.”

The victory was just the gelding’s third of his career from 71 attempts.

While the result put Jukebox Jet back on the winner’s list for the first time in several years, it broke an even longer winning drought for his trainer.

The 69-year-old Regazzoli last prepared a winner in the 2014-15 term and went around 130 starters without tasting success.

The pacer has been a work in progress for the father-and-daughter combination.

He had shown he was ready to win again after running in the money on two occasions around the Peninsula-based track from four attempts to start 2025.

“The horse has had a lot of issues, things like back and muscle problems,” Regazzoli said.

“He is all good now. He is feeling top of the world now with his attitude around home – he is real happy.”

Jukebox Jet and young reinswoman Amanda Payne commenced from the third slot in the front line on Monday evening.

The stable have stuck with young driver Payne over the last couple of years as Jukebox Jet’s main driver.

The 20-year-old Payne delivered a winning steer for the Regazzoli and Stanton team after getting the best of Todays Hero and driver Brendan Barnes in the concluding stages over 1780 metres.

“Amanda drove him well,” Regazzoli said.

“She was happy with him and he was soft and quiet on the horse to the line.

“We have stuck with Amanda; she has done well with Jet. You stick with the ones you know, if they do well with the horse – you keep them.

“We will keep Amanda going with him.”

Jukebox Jet will go searching for back-to-back victories on Wednesday of next week at Redcliffe.