Mick Price says Jungle Magnate (NZ) (Tarzino) has one trip left in him to Adelaide to tackle the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m).
Price said a gallop at Cranbourne on Saturday morning convinced the trainer Jungle Magnate had recovered from his trip to Adelaide last week and was on target to take his place in the Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Jungle Magnate travelled to Adelaide last week to win the Gr.3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) and Price said the gelding knew he had had a run.
“He’s bounced back good even though you could tell that he felt the run,” Price said.
“He had a little freshen during the week and he worked well on Saturday morning.
“I think when you take horses to Adelaide you get two runs out of them. You can go there-and-back twice in prep, but I don’t think you can go three times and I’ve only allowed two runs.
“That is why we ran in the Mornington Guineas (1600m) and a mile race at Caulfield because I couldn’t take him over and back for an 1800-metre race and I have no luck leaving them there.”
Mark Zahra will take over from Damien Oliver on Saturday with Oliver committed to the James Cummings-trained Godolphin galloper Alegron (Teofilo), a last start winner of the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington on Anzac Day.
