Jack gets his chance to break hoodoo in the cup

h

Harness

Classy five-year-old Jumpingjackmac, so often a bridesmaid in the major Group 1 races, gets his chance to break through for well deserved victory in the $450,000 TabTouch WA Pacing Cup on Friday night.

The Gary Hall Snr-trained pacer finished second in the WA Derby, second in the Golden Nugget and second in January’s WA Pacing Cup.

He is, by no means, a perennial placegetter – he has won 17 races and $625,000 in stakes.

But a win at Group 1 level has been just out of reach.

He showed he was spot on for the cup with an all-the-way win in the James Brennan Memorial (2536m) on October 13.

Regular driver Stuart McDonald believed the Mach Three gelding would get his chance from barrier 2 and fixed markets had him $4 second favourite behind Magnificent Storm ($2.90) on Thursday.

“He’s good enough to win but you always need a bit of racing luck,” McDonald said.

“I’m confident he can hold the horses to his outside but it’ll be whether Loyalist (barrier 1) wants to sit or not.

“But we’ll be coming out hard at the start. If we don’t lead it’s not race over for him.

“I just hope we don’t get shuffled too far back.”

Race caller and form analyst Matt Young also thinks Jumpingjackmac will be hard to beat but has Magnificent Storm as his top selection.

“I’ve been on the fence since the field was finalised and am still finding it difficult,” Young said.

“I think Jumpingjackmac can win if he can hold the outside pressure but ultimately Magnificent Storm is my tip as I think he’s a versatile player.

“Loyalist holds the key. I think he’s got the speed to lead but think he’ll take a sit on one of the better horses and get the perfect run.

“Jumpingjackmac and Magnificent Storm are the two main chances to lead, I believe.

“If the tempo is ridiculous, then the swoopers come into the play. Mighty Ronaldo, even from barrier 9 is a sleeper at odds. He is racing really well.”

Loyalist’s trainer Joe Conolly said the horse had the speed to lead and regular driver Seaton Grima would not want to get too far back in the run.

“I’m happy with his work. He has been eating well and looks good, so all systems go,” Conolly said.

“We will definitely be coming out and holding to keep our options open.

“I am confident that nothing has the speed to cross him, so we’ll hold up early and I’ll leave it up to Seaton from there.

“He’s a top notch front running driver and Loyalist has led and won his only two starts on the 800m track for me at Penrith, so the plan is to make full use of the good draw.

“Couldn’t risk handing up to Jumpingjackmac and end up buried too deep on the pegs.”

Rick Lee

Photograph: Jumpingjackmac and Stuart McDonald after their win in the James Brennan.  Pic credit: PacePix