By Jonny Turner
Jaccka Jorge can continue his family’s impressive trotting legacy at Ascot Park on Tuesday.
But, trainer Brett Gray is not convinced the horse is ready to show his full potential just yet.
Jaccka Jorge caught the eye with a huge debut performance, to run fourth behind Big Iron, at Winton earlier this month.
The effort, where the trotter broke early and recovered to run fourth, confirmed that the half-brother to Jaccka Justy and Jess Jaccka, by Andover Hall from Janine Jaccka, has some of his family’s trotting prowess.
“He has got a bit of that natural ability the family has got,” Gray said.
Gray was not totally convinced Jaccka Jorge is ready to show the full extent of that ability when he lines up at Ascot Park.
“He is typical of that family, they do take a little bit to get going.”
“He is probably better behaved than most of the family have been, but they do take a couple of starts to click in to it and do things right.”
Gray has a two-pronged attack on Tuesday’s maiden trotting event with Richard The Great lining up alongside Jaccka Jorge.
The trainer said the three-year-old has also shown good promise.
“I think he will be a nice horse in time.”
“He is a bit immature, but I think he will be a nice horse, he has a bit of ability.”
“He will probably be better next year.”
Richard The Third was faultless when running second on debut at Forbury Park, before galloping late in the same race Jaccka Jorge contested at Winton.
Gray hoped that was a one-off mistake from his usually reliable trotter.
“That was the first time he had done anything wrong, so we were a bit stumped as to why he did that.”
Gray will line up first starter, The Interceptor, in maiden company on Tuesday.
The three-year-old’s second to Pembrook Playboy at last week’s Ascot Park trials was the latest of a number of good trial efforts the horse has put in ahead of his debut.
“He went good at the trials the other day, he is probably one of my best chances.”
Hazer won a trial in moderate time on the same day, ahead of him starting in another maiden event on Tuesday.
The four-year-old does not bring a sparkling race day form-line in to the event, largely because of bad luck, Gray said.
“He is better than his form suggests, he was parked three wide in his first two runs.”
Loma Jaccka will clash with highly touted three-year-old, Montefalco, in rating 50-55 company.
Gray expected a good run from the consistent mare, who has drawn barrier 2.
“She was a bit stiff last time, I think she is a nice chance.”
Edie Jaccka starts for the Gray stable in Tuesday’s junior drivers’ event.
She looks the outsider of the trainer’s six-horse team at the Invercargill meeting.
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