J’Walke
Race Images Palmerston North
Injury-plagued galloper J'Walke will make a long overdue return to racing at Hawera on Thursday.
The lightly-tried five-year-old has tested the patience and the wallet of his part-owner and trainer Wayne Jones, who all but gave up on the Darci Brahma gelding last spring.
"He's had major back issues and I never picked up on it early on and ran him when I shouldn't have," he said. "I put my hands up and take full responsibility for his run of bad form.
"I came close to having him put down last November to put him out of his misery, he was so sad."
However, regular treatment from chiropractors and a massage specialist have turned J'Walke around.
"It's taken a long time to get him back to where he is now," Jones said. "He's fairly forward and as long as he is running on we will all be happy."
The gelding, who raced only once last season, will return to action in the Hawera Trainers' 1400 with Danielle Hirini booked for the ride.
J'Walke won his second start as a three-year-old and while he was subsequently unplaced in the Hallmark Stud Mile on Karaka Million night, he was less than five and a half lengths off the subsequent Group One winner Sound Proposition.
He was then beaten a little over seven and a half lengths by the outstanding Mongolian Khan in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas.
"He showed all the potential in the world before it all went wrong, hopefully we can see him back," Jones said. – NZ Racing Desk.
The lightly-tried five-year-old has tested the patience and the wallet of his part-owner and trainer Wayne Jones, who all but gave up on the Darci Brahma gelding last spring.
"He's had major back issues and I never picked up on it early on and ran him when I shouldn't have," he said. "I put my hands up and take full responsibility for his run of bad form.
"I came close to having him put down last November to put him out of his misery, he was so sad."
However, regular treatment from chiropractors and a massage specialist have turned J'Walke around.
"It's taken a long time to get him back to where he is now," Jones said. "He's fairly forward and as long as he is running on we will all be happy."
The gelding, who raced only once last season, will return to action in the Hawera Trainers' 1400 with Danielle Hirini booked for the ride.
J'Walke won his second start as a three-year-old and while he was subsequently unplaced in the Hallmark Stud Mile on Karaka Million night, he was less than five and a half lengths off the subsequent Group One winner Sound Proposition.
He was then beaten a little over seven and a half lengths by the outstanding Mongolian Khan in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas.
"He showed all the potential in the world before it all went wrong, hopefully we can see him back," Jones said. – NZ Racing Desk.
