Race Images Palmerston Nprth
Jayla Monet has taken a winning step closer to a crack at a southern staying feature.
She will have one more outing following her recent home-track success in the Te Awamutu Cup (2000m) to clinch a start in next month’s Gr.3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup (3200m).
“I was going to back her up in the Egmont Cup at Hawera on Saturday, but the track last Sunday was a bit heavier than I thought it may have been so she’ll need a bit more time,” trainer Ben Ropiha said.
“I’ll map it out and give her more of a gap before her next race and hopefully the Cup will be her grand final.”
The addition of blinkers was integral to Jayla Monet’s latest victory, the sixth of her 23-start career.
“I’ve waited before putting the hood on her and she settled really well,” Ropiha said. “It made her a bit sharper and she won quite easily in the end.”
By contrast, stablemate Doiknowyou will race without headgear next time out and a positive outcome will see him accompany Jayla Monet to Christchurch.
The eight-year-old was runner-up in the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton in August and he has finished runner-up in two subsequent outings, the latest of them at Te Awamutu.
“I’ll pull the hood off him at Rotorua and see if he settles a bit better,” said Ropiha, who has the Listed Sweynesse Stakes (1950m) next on Doiknowyou’s programme.
“I’ll wait and see what happens, but there are two options at Riccarton.”
Late payments will be considered for the New Zealand Cup or the Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) with Ropiha, at this stage, leaning toward the latter event. – NZ Racing Desk.