I Feel Good returns to win Stayers Final

I Feel Good may head for the Caloundra Cup after winning the Winter Stayers Final at Ipswich.

Comeback galloper I Feel Good is headed for better things after going one better than last year and winning the $100,000 Winter Stayers Final at Ipswich.

I Feel Good ($31) got up in the last stride to beat Ready For Danger ($5.50) by a short half-head in the 2150m race, with another short half-head to the favourite, Kay Kay Boy ($2.60).

Co-trainers Sheila Laxon and John Symons pinpointed the Winter Stayers Final after I Feel Good ran second to War Baby in last year’s race.

While it was I Feel Good’s ninth win, Symonds believes it should be much more.

“He ran fourth in an AAMI Vase (2011) at Moonee Valley behind Manawanui as a young horse behind but he missed nearly three years with a tendon problem,” Symons said on Saturday.

“He hates wet tracks but we had to start him at Caloundra last Sunday because we missed vital gallopers last week with the rain.”

Symons said I Feel Good might press on to the Listed Caloundra Cup in a fortnight.

“He’s a very good horse on his day and I don’t think he would be out of place,” Symons said.

Winning jockey Michael Hellyer said I Feel Good was a genuine stayer who had chased well in the straight.