by Bren O'Brien
Co-trainer Murray Baker is delighted that Long Jack (So You Think {NZ}) has booked his spot in next month's G1 Victoria Derby with his win in the Listed Roderick Insurance Brokers Geelong Classic, but feels there is much better to come from the colt in the autumn.
Long Jack proved he was the better stayer of the Derby aspirants in the race, surging home late to defeat Southern Moon (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) and Relucent (NZ) (Savabeel) and confirm his spot in the $2 million Classic at Flemington on November 1.
The addition of blinkers and pre-race ear muffs settled the colt right down and prevented a repeat of the mounting yard meltdown which ruined his prospects at Flemington last time out and he raced like a horse who will relish the step up to 2500 metres.
"He'll be in the Derby, whether he can win or not we’ll find out. We think he's a good horse but he might be three of four months away from it," Baker, who trains in partnership with Andrew Forsman, said.
"It hasn't been the normal (Derby) prep with him, but we had faith in him. He's out of a Monsun mare, so he should stay like a mother-in-law and he should be a chance."
"It hasn't been the normal (Derby) prep with him, but we had faith in him." - Murray Baker
Damien Lane rode Long Jack to perfection but won’t be able to take the ride in the Victoria Derby as he will be suspended.
Long Jack was bred and is raced by the Doyle family, with his German-bred dam Extravaganza (Ger) purchased out of the 2014 Tattersalls December Mare Sale by Belmont Bloodstock for 70,000.
Williams Harbours Group 1 ambition
Trainer Matthew Williams is plotting a raid on Western Australia's Group 1 riches after his rising star Harbour Views (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) made it a perfect five wins from five starts in a Country Series VRC Trophy Heat at Geelong.
The OTI Racing owned 5-year-old will head to the $500,000 final of the series at Flemington on VRC Oaks Day, but the Warrnambool trainer has even loftier goals in mind for the imported gelding.
Harbour Views (Fr)
"The Flemington race was the one we targeted him at all along. We wanted to qualify him for that," Williams said. "I like the idea of Perth for the mile (of the Railway S.) and the 1800 (of the Kingston Town Classic). The ability to use Lindsey Smith's stables and environment over there."
"It could be the trip which really helps him along."
"It could be the trip which really helps him along." - Matthew Williams
A £68,000 purchase out of the Tattersalls October Sale in 2016, Harbour Views didn't debut until he was late 4-year-old winning for Williams, winning a maiden at the Warrnambool carnival in May.
He then registered victories at Bendigo and Swan Hill before having a spell and resuming with a fourth straight win at Caulfield. Wednesday's Geelong success wasn't without its dramas, with jockey John Allen caught three-deep on him throughout.
He chased the second favourite Impi (Crowded House {GB}) down the straight and got the better of him before holding of fast-finishing O'Tauto (O'Lonhro) by 0.5l on the line, the narrowest margin in his career.
"He covered a little bit of ground, but that was always the plan to have him close to Impi as they straightened up and not to give him too big of a start. He is such a relaxed horse. He can sit out there three wide and it doesn't bother him. He's got that bit of x-factor about him," Williams said.
