Teller rakes in the cash

Connections taking a cautious approach with youngster

THE connections of star fouryear-old Tasmanian pacer Jaks Teller will resist the temptation to rush the entire into top company by allowing him to gradually make his way through the grades.

Jaks Teller took his career win tally to seven from eight starts when he led almost throughout to score comfortably in a C3-C4 event over 2090m at Luxbet Park Hobart last night.

With Ricky Duggan in the sulky, the four-year-old settled midfield from his front-row draw, but as soon as Our Classic Mach settled in the lead Duggan sent his charge around the field to take charge.

From there it was little more than a procession as Jaks Teller gave his rivals the slip turning for home and he went on to defeat Our Classic Mach by 7.2m with Kvitova Leis almost 2m away third.

“We have the Easter Cup in mind for this horse, but he is going to have to improve his overall racing manners to get to that goal,” said part-ownerbreeder Jamie Cockshutt.

“He still does a lot wrong, so there is no use rushing him into races against the best with him still learning his craft.

“There’s no need to rush him and if we take our time and let him mature gradually, he’ll have a much better chance of getting to top company.”

He again ran about in the home straight, but his lead was so great the result was never in doubt.

Cockshutt said Jaks Teller would tackle a C4 in a week or so and when and if he reached C7-8 class he would be given a spell before returning for a crack at the 2018 Easter Cup in Launceston at the end of March. THE Paul Williams-trained Metro Digby was sent out a $13 outsider in the opening race on the program, but from barrier three he was able to easily find the lead from where his trainer-driver was able to dictate terms and cruise to an effortless win in a C1-C2 over 2090m.

Metro Digby scored by 6m from the favourite, Zhukov Leis ($2.70), with Courageous Katee ($3.30) a half-neck away third and just in advance of the well-backed Rollon Jack ($3.60).

The winner’s stablemate Eternal Shadow settled third on the rails and ran on fairly in the home straight to finish fifth.

Metro Digby (MetropolitanJolopez) went into the race with excellent form having been placed at two of his three pre- vious outings that followed an impressive win in similar company in Launceston.

“The horse is always very hard to beat when he leads and he did it with ease tonight,” Williams said.

It was Metro Digby’s eighth career win from 56 starts, but he also has notched 17 minor placings for career prizemoney of almost $60,000.