By Adam Hamilton
Perth Inter Dominion favourite Hectorjayjay is off to regional Victorian again to continue his lead-up campaign.
Trainer David Aiken took him to the Swan Hill Cup for a sparkling win on October 15 and now Hectorjayjay is heading to Thursday’s $30,000 Group 3 Yarra Valley Cup (2650m).
But don’t let the venue trick you into thinking this will be another stroll in the park.
Hectorjayjay is the lone back row runner from gate eight, but his rivals include Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin’s three Perth Inter Dominion contenders: Restrepo (gate three), Guaranteed (five) and Yankee Rockstar (six).
Stewart and Tonkin train half the field with the talented Major Secret also there from gate two.
The depth extends to Adam Kelly’s talented pair of sit-sprinters Chilla Palmer (gate four) and Five Star Anvil (seven).
Hectorjayjay is no stranger to the Yarra Valley Cup having finished off a 10m handicap from the stand behind Barimah last year.
This year’s Cup is so strong because lead-up options are getting scarce in Victoria.
Connections of most Victorian-based Inter Dominion hopefuls had pencilled-in the $50,000 Smoken Up at Melton on November 12 as a key lead-up race for Perth.
That’s out the window now with the flight taking the horses from Melbourne to Perth due to leave early the following morning.
Defending champion Lennytheshark, a stablemate of Hectorjayjay, might not have another lead-up race.
“I’m not sure if there are any options,” part-owner Martin Riseley said. “It’s not ideal the timing of the flight, but that’s just how it’s turned out.
“I’ve left it to David (Aiken, trainer) to look at all our options.
“At least we got those two good runs into him at Menangle.”
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