Double Impact is an apt description of two life-changing experiences in the past year for trainer Jackie Crompton.
After establishing a successful career as a hairdresser, Crompton sold her Toowoomba salon last February so she and husband Wayne could prepare for the arrival of their first baby, Jorja who is nearly six months old.
“She’s been a joy to care for which makes life a lot easier although it’s been a bit of a juggling act to make sure everything runs as smooth as possible,” Crompton said.
Renowned wet-tracker Double Impact is prepared by Crompton and will challenge for favouritism in Saturday’s Sunshine Coast Cup with the prospect of a heavy racing surface following rain caused by ex-tropical cyclone Oswald.
“Even though he races well on the dry he just seems to find another leg when it’s wet and he seems to be that little bit better in the going than the others,” Crompton said.
“But we thought the heavy track was going to play into our hands in the Sunshine Coast Guineas last year and he finished second so you can never be too confident.”
Double Impact will carry only 54kg at the Sunshine Coast, the lightest weight he has carried in his 25-start career.
“The reason we opted to run in this race is because of his light weight and we think he deserves a chance at winning a Listed race,” Crompton said.
The four-year-old finished sixth in the Magic Millions Class Six Plate (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 12 but Crompton rated him unlucky.
“He was trapped wide from the alley and it was just one of those things where he was a victim of circumstances,” she said.
“If you look through his record he’s never run a bad race.”
Crompton rates topweight Fillydelphia and the Les Kelly-trained Lucky Luna as Double Impact’s main dangers in the Cup.
Lucky Luna is a three-time winner at the Sunshine Coast 1400-metre circuit which includes his win in the 2009 Glasshouse Handicap on a surface with the heaviest rating possible.
