Jake set to muscle in on Derby

NEW Zealand trainer Donna Logan is hoping Jake The Muss can cement a trans-Tasman trip to join stablemate Here He Comes in the Queensland Derby.

Jake The Muss runs over 2100 metres today at Ruakaka, Northland, his home track.

Logan and co-trainer Chris Gibbs believe Jake The Muss has the ability to run well in the Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 10.

“If he wins at Ruakaka he’ll go to Sydney to try and get enough money up to ensure he gets in the Queensland Derby,” Logan told NZ Racing Desk.

“We didn’t take him over … for the Rough Habit Plate because we didn’t think he’d have enough stakemoney to get in, but as it turned out he would have got a start.”

Logan was not too disappointed with Here He Comes’ midfield finish in Saturday’s Rough Habit Plate.

Both Logan and jockey Leith Innes said that he would have finished closer had he concentrated on the job at hand.

“Leith came in and said he wasn’t switched on at all,” Logan said.

“He said he was too busy looking around him rather than racing properly.

“He’s a really dumb horse and has been a slow learner.”