Kiwi-bred stayer Hit The Road Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) will take his place in one of two key staying races across the Tasman this week, with nominations for both the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) and Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m).
The son of Jakkalberry was initially sent to Australia as a jumping prospect after winning seven races on the flat for part-owner and former trainer Shaun Phelan. He swiftly broke his maiden over fences at Warrnambool in July for Symon Wilde, but when reverting back to the flat, Hit The Road Jack continued on his winning way, scoring in the Flemington Cup (2800m).
Returning to the Melbourne venue last month, Hit The Road Jack came within a neck of gaining an automatic place in the A$8 million Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) when finishing second to Point King in the Gr.3 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m). His bridesmaid streak continued into the Listed R.M. Ansett Classic (2400m) at Mornington a fortnight later, much to the pleasant surprise of Phelan.
“It’s been a big thrill, he’s really improved over there,” he said.
“It’s been more of a surprise how well he’s running on the flat, he was initially sent over to be a jumper, so he’ll have all that ahead of him next year.
“I’ve always wanted to send a horse over for the jumps and he was the right one to do it with. They go a bit quicker over there and he had ability on the flat, and he can run on all types of tracks.
“Symon’s team are really happy with him at the moment, he’s had a bit of time in between runs so he’s had a racecourse gallop somewhere, which looked really good on the My Stable update they sent through.
“I think they are nominating for the Moonee Valley Gold Cup as well on Friday, he’s been lucky to have rain on the day in his last couple of starts so I think they’re just looking to get a wet day. If not, I’d say he’ll be running tomorrow (at Geelong).”
Hit The Road Jack’s recent form has made him an ideal fit for the inaugural running of the Australian Heritage Cup (2800m) on Melbourne Cup Day, a A$250,000 staying race which will replace the traditional Benchmark 96 race staged last season as the ‘Macca’s Run’, won by Cup-bound galloper The Map.
The new edition of the contest is solely for New Zealand and Australian-based trainers.
“I think they are going to aim for the Heritage Cup race, but we’ll leave it up to Symon. The horse is just thriving,” Phelan said.
Hit The Road Jack was recently joined at Wilde’s stable by his full-sister Enchanted Elle (NZ) (Jakkalberry), who won six races in her homeland, including the Taumarunui Gold Cup (2200m).
“She’s gone over there too, we suggested sending her as well after she ran third in her first hurdle start,” Phelan said.
“It’s probably a bit easier for her to go over as a maidener, so I thought it may work well to keep her in work now so they can get a feel for her as well. I think she’s still got a bit of flat form and they are happy with her so far, I think she’s trialling at the end of the week and they’ve got plenty of Rating 78 staying races that she can run in.
“She’ll hopefully be aimed at the Warrnambool Carnival next year in May.”
