Win gives Lake Jackson boost
HE WON’T be riding the horse in the Alice Springs Cup (2000m), but Carl Spry is adamant that South Australian raider Lake Jackson is the one to beat.
Trained by Port Lincoln’s Angela Forster, Lake Jackson won the $40,000 Red Centre Technology Partners Chief Ministers Cup (1600m) at Pioneer Park yesterday.
Not only was it the feature race on Day 3 of the Alice Springs Cup Carnival, but it was also the last hit-out for stayers before the Cup on May 7.
Spry, who guided Montalto to victory for Forster in the 2016 Alice Springs Cup, couldn’t fault Lake Jackson.
“In the end it was a soft win and he will probably end up being the Cup favourite,” Spry said last night.
“He can get the 2000m and he certainly stamped his authority today.
“He travelled easy during the race and gave me a good ride …. In the end he did it easy – he also ran a good time ( 1.35.39).
“The only question mark is whether or not he can back up in the Cup, but from a jockey’s perspective you’d like to be on him.”
Spry confirmed that Adelaide-based jockey Dom Tourneur had been booked to ride Lake Jackson in the Cup.
Incredibly, Tourneur has won the Red Centre’s big race six times.
Lake Jackson may have given the leaders plenty of latitude for a major portion of yes- terday’s race, but in the home straight he wound up to catch Kym Healy’s Aussie Jack (Raymond Vigar) in the shadows of the post.
Aussie Jack ($15), who won the Darwin Corporate Park Cup (1300m) during the 2017 Darwin Cup Carnival, was brave but Lake Jackson had his number.
Lisa Whittle’s $13 hope Snowtrooper (Jarrod Todd) impressed in recent weeks and looked like pulling off a remarkable win after leading for most of the way before fading for third.
Darwin-based Spry, who is also a trainer, looks like having a Cup runner in the shape of Hammered Art. Unfortunately, he won’t be able to meet the weight with Kim Gladwin in line to take the ride.