01 October 2021 | Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Jumpingjackmac, a leading candidate for the rich classics for four-year-olds early next year, is poised for a strong performance at his first start for 19 weeks when he contests the 2130m Better Your Bet With TABtouch Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, according to the New Zealand-bred gelding’s trainer Gary Hall snr.
“He has drawn the outside barrier on the front line and is likely to settled down at the rear,” said Hall. “Otis is likely to lead from the No. 2 barrier and will take catching. However, I’m sure Jumpingjackmac will go pretty close.”
Jumpingjackmac possesses excellent gate speed, and Gary Hall jnr will assess his options when the mobile barrier sends the field of nine on its way.
Otis, trained at Byford by David Thompson, is in splendid form and he notched his eighth win from 26 starts when he raced in the one-out, one-back position before Dylan Egerton-Green brought him home with a well-timed burst to get up and snatch a head victory over the pacemaker Burghley Shard over 2139m last Friday night.
Egerton-Green is sure to take advantage of the colt’s favourable draw by attempting an all-the-way victory.
The Hall stable has a handy second-string runner is Faster Than Dad, a promising but inexperienced son of Alta Christiano, who will be handled by Callan Suvaljko from the No. 4 barrier. Faster Than Dad has raced four times for two wins and two seconds.
Stamford, a full-brother of star pacer Magnificent Storm, will be driven by Aldo Cortopassi from barrier five, and trainer Ray Williams will be hoping the American Ideal gelding will improve on his last-start last behind Otis in a field of six. That followed smart wins at his first three outings after resuming from a spell.
Hall snr is confident that promising four-year-old Euphoria will return to the winning list by enjoying the No. 1 barrier and setting the pace in the 1730m Nova 93.7 Pace.
Euphoria met with a check and was hampered for room in the final stages when ninth behind Rockaball last Friday night. That followed second placings at his four previous outings.
Hall jnr chose to drive Euphoria in preference to Zazu, Henrik Larsson and The Tiger Army. Zazu was driven by Hall when he dashed to an early lead, set the pace and was untroubled to win by two lengths from Renaissance Art over 2536m on Tuesday of last week. Zazu will start from barrier four with Emily Suvaljko in the sulky.
Trainer Luke Edwards will drive Henrik Larsson from barrier five, and Maddison Brown has been engaged for The Tiger Army, who will begin from the No. 6 barrier.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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