Jacksstar (outer)
Trish Dunbell
Gary Vile doesn't expect the northern style of racing to worry his in-form five-year-old Jacksstar.
The Awapuni trainer has his last-start Gr.3 Wellington Cup runner-up in good heart for Saturday with another strong performance at Ellerslie to earn the stayer a return trip to Auckland next month.
"He had a week in the paddock after Trentham to freshen up and he's on track for the Avondale Cup," Vile said.
"He hasn't raced right-handed before, but I don't see any problems. He works that way quite a bit.
"I'm really proud of the horse, he's gone ahead in leaps and bounds and as long as he goes well in the Avondale Cup we'll go back for the Auckland Cup."
Jacksstar has been in excellent touch this season with consecutive victories in the Chalmers Two Mile Premier and the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup. His second placing in the Listed Marton Cup preceded his runner-up finish to Savaria in the Wellington Cup.
"It might be a big ask to run in three two mile races, but the horse is right at the top of his game," Vile said.
Stablemate Rock On is also nominated for the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup, but he won't be heading the Ellerslie way.
"He'll run in the St Leger Trial and then on to the St Leger and, if everything is going well, he'll have a crack at the Hawke's Bay Cup," Vile said.
"He's not a professional yet and keeps missing the jump so we'll take the blinkers off to try something different." – NZ Racing Desk.
The Awapuni trainer has his last-start Gr.3 Wellington Cup runner-up in good heart for Saturday with another strong performance at Ellerslie to earn the stayer a return trip to Auckland next month.
"He had a week in the paddock after Trentham to freshen up and he's on track for the Avondale Cup," Vile said.
"He hasn't raced right-handed before, but I don't see any problems. He works that way quite a bit.
"I'm really proud of the horse, he's gone ahead in leaps and bounds and as long as he goes well in the Avondale Cup we'll go back for the Auckland Cup."
Jacksstar has been in excellent touch this season with consecutive victories in the Chalmers Two Mile Premier and the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup. His second placing in the Listed Marton Cup preceded his runner-up finish to Savaria in the Wellington Cup.
"It might be a big ask to run in three two mile races, but the horse is right at the top of his game," Vile said.
Stablemate Rock On is also nominated for the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup, but he won't be heading the Ellerslie way.
"He'll run in the St Leger Trial and then on to the St Leger and, if everything is going well, he'll have a crack at the Hawke's Bay Cup," Vile said.
"He's not a professional yet and keeps missing the jump so we'll take the blinkers off to try something different." – NZ Racing Desk.
