Jacksstar far too tough
Manawatu Cup winner Jacksstar is as tough as they come.
The Gary Vile-trained gelding won his $100,000 home town cup yesterday and will now re-focus on Trentham.
He was at Trentham for his previous start and won the Chalmers Handicap (3200m) on December 3 while his next mission is the prestigious $250,000 Wellington Cup on January 21 over the same trip.
Vile was a happy man when he saw the son of Zed looming into contention in Sunday’s rescheduled race after the meeting was abandoned on Saturday..
‘‘I knew on the turn he would out-tough them,’’ he said. ‘‘I told Alysha [jockey Alysha Collett]] not to wait around for them, he’s the fittest horse in the race, he’s just come back from a two mile race.’’
Collett wasn’t content to let the wily Chris Johnson dictate terms up front on Balham.
Johnson was making the race his own, setting a leisurely pace on Balham and controlling the feature 2300m race.
Collett woke up to the fact and set Jacksstar alight to go forward and challenge with 1000m to run.
It was a winning move as the two leaders dominated proceedings with Jacksstar gaining the winning edge after a stirring home stretch battle.
‘‘It turned out to be a good ride,’’ Vile said. ’’He’ll go to the paddock for a few days now and we’ll have a look at the Wellington Cup.’’
Race favourite Five To Midnight was locked away on the rails in midfield for much of the race before rider Darryl Bradley found daylight and they ran home stoutly for third.
He will lose no fans as he goes on to the City Of Auckland Cup on New Year’s Day while the gallant Balham will be at Trentham to try and turn the tables on Jacksstar.
Chocante was set to run as one of the favourites in the race but was withdrawn from the rescheduled running. The decision followed the upgrade of the track to Good 3 from Saturday’s Dead 4 which had improved from a Dead 6 on Thursday.
Local Lisa Latta got the revised edition of the meeting off to a perfect start when she trained the quinella in the 2-year-old race.
In a ding-dong finish Dijon Bleu ridden by Kelly Mcculloch nosed out Dreams Of Platinum and Robbie Hannam with the favourite Gold Fever flashing home for third a narrow margin back. The Karaka Million registered winner, a $26,000 yearling purchase for her group of owners, is a filly by Burgundy and was scoring on debut.
‘‘She had trialled nicely and has shown us a bit,’’ Latta said. ‘‘She went a bit fierce for Kelly but showed good fight.’’
Latta will monitor the filly’s progress before deciding her immediate programme.
Chief steward John Oatham reported that all jockeys who rode in the opening race were satisfied that the track, with the rail reset at four metres, presented no issues of concern.