Racing
Tom Prebble lands first Stakes success
Title Fighter has given apprentice Tom Prebble his biggest success.
Apprentice jockey Tom Prebble has registered the biggest win of his career guiding outsider Title Fighter to victory in a Stakes race at Flemington.
Success in the Listed Straight Six (1200m) on Saturday was just Prebble's third ride in a Stakes race with the apprentice now logging 110 career wins.
Prebble is the son of former champion jockey Brett Prebble and Maree Payne and started his career in November 2022.
A $61 chance in betting, Title Fighter scored a short-head victory over Deekay ($21) with former Singapore champion Lim's Kosciuszko ($12) a neck away third.
"This means a lot," Prebble said.
"It was my first time on the horse. I thought the win was mine, but I didn't want to go too soon and be smiling and cheering when I didn't get the winner, so it's pretty awesome now that I do realise I've won."
With two jockeys as parents, Prebble is keeping a level head on his shoulders.
Instead of a quick celebration with his mother and father, Prebble had to head off to sort his riding career and weigh out for his next ride.
"I just see every race as the next and I just learn from them," Prebble said.
"I got the opportunity to ride in a Listed race and took it on the chin and it turned out awesome."
Trainer Clayton Douiglas said Title Fighter was in great form this campaign, graduating from a benchmark 74 race to being a Stakes race winner.
He said Title Fighter had strengthened as he had matured after struggling at 1000m earlier in his career.
"We knocked back big offers from Hong Kong early on," Douglas said.
"To be honest, I thought the owner was mad, but he's won a Stakes race at Flemington.
"It's been a long, hard process to get him to switch off and now he's got a few strings to his bow.
"He's done a terrific job this campaign and there might be some more for him in the next 12 months or so."
Douglas praised Prebble for his ride on Title Fighter after putting the sprinter into the race early.
"He's a quirky horse," Douglas said.
"You have to get the first furlong right and then you're right.
"Sometimes it doesn't happen when you draw good gates, but he drew the outside gate today, so it worked out perfectly."
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