A landmark in a career that has established him as one of Victoria’s most astute and innovative trainers lies ahead of Mick Kent at Sandown on Wednesday.
Kent needs two winners to match his career-best city tally of 36, and with five chances on a day when a heavy track will make every race open, he could get the job done with a couple of meetings to spare.
While he has prospects in early races, Kent will be looking to The Jazz Singer in the final event, the Sportingbet Handicap (1800m), as his best chance of closing in on his seasonal target.
The Jazz Singer who will be attempting to notch his fourth win on end hasn’t finished further back than second in any of his five starts.
The Singspiel five-year-old made it three wins in a row with an impressive victory at Mornington earlier this month in what was his first outing in almost a year.
Kent was thrilled with the effort and while he considers the race a stronger-than-usual 0-78 event, he believes The Jazz Singer has the ability to cope.
“He’s only second-up off a long, long break and it’s not a bad race, it’s a lot better than your normal midweek race, but he still looks well-placed in it,” Kent said.
The certainty of a soft track is also in the favour of a horse who has won twice on heavy going and once on a slow track.
Kent will also saddle Handsome Knight in the Sportingbet.com.au Handicap (1000m), Palio Princess in the 1600m mares event Balytska in the MaxiDiv Handicap (1600m) and Countcool in the Sportingbetoz Handicap (2400m).
