Jest Crewsin’s hard-fought second to a horse Jan Bowen regards as a future champion has convinced the trainer he is on target for Friday night’s Canterbury Classic.
The Joe Pride-trained Rain Affair had Jest Crewsin’s measure in the Listed Carrington Stakes last Monday but the Muswellbrook-based Bowen was proud of her charge’s effort to get within 1-1/4 lengths.
“I was really pleased with him and the way he went behind a horse who could be a champion,” Bowen said.
“He will run on Friday and Peter Robl sticks with him which is a good thing.
“Sometimes it’s hard to get a rider who can stay with a horse but Peter is getting to know him now.
“He rode him the right way which is up closer. If he gets back then he can get stuck back there.
“I think he’s up to this class. There are no easy races for him any more because he is a rating 93 now but he has earned it.”
The winner of nine of his 47 starts, Jest Crewsin’ claimed his biggest win in the 2011 Carrington Stakes but Bowen believes he is in even better shape a year later as a six-year-old.
“He looks a million dollars and is racing as well as he ever has,” she said.
“I haven’t set any autumn goals for him.
“But ridden the right way I think he can win over 1200 or even 1300 metres.”
Five of Jest Crewsin’s wins have been at the 1100 metres of Friday’s race with the other four over 900 and 1000 metres.
There were 10 nominations for Friday’s feature race including Group One winners Gold Trail and Sniper’s Bullet and three-year-old Aeronautical.
Gold Trail’s trainer Gary Portelli has also entered the winner of the 2010 Railway Stakes in New Zealand for Saturday’s Magic Millions Sprint at the Gold Coast.
His stablemate Eight Bills, who finished three lengths behind Jest Crewsin’ when fourth in the Carrington, was also entered for the Canterbury night feature.
News Alert, winner of the Razor Sharp on December 17 in which Jest Crewsin’ was midfield, is the highest rated horse on 105 with Gold Trail on 100 and Sniper’s Bullet 103.
AAP TURF
