Kristen Buchanan is banking on the expertise of top jockey Hugh Bowman to help Jazzland break a sequence of minor placings.
The on-pace gelding is also among acceptances for a race at Kensington on Friday, but Buchanan is leaning towards running him in the Cabra Bowls Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill a day later with the booking of Bowman, along with a more suitable speed map, significant factors.
“Josh (Parr) usually rides the horse, and he rides him really well, but he wasn’t available,” Buchanan said.
“The opportunity came up to have Hugh on and he’s a genius. I only put him on the right horses – and when I can get him obviously – but I think his strikerate for me would be terrific.
“With Hugh on, he’s just got that clock in his head that is really critical to this horse because he’s got a high cruising speed.”
Jazzland’s consistent form has been a reflection of the stable’s start to the season.
From her past 30 runners, Buchanan has had 17 horses finish in the top five, including four winners and 12 placegetters.
She credits jockey manager Josh Barrett will helping her place her horses to advantage and says it has been one of the stable’s key areas of focus.
“We have worked really hard on that,” Buchanan said
“We’ve had a really good start to the season and the horses are going out and being competitive.
“They can’t win them all but the horses are trying hard and in good form so I can’t complain.”
Jazzland will head to Rosehill almost four weeks after finishing runner-up to Shibli over 1800m at the same venue.
He has raced once a month since resuming in September and Buchanan says spacing the seven-year-old’s runs is a pattern she has learned works well.
“I found that he is a much better horse fresh,” she said.
“He puts everything into his runs and he needs a good recovery time afterwards.”
Jazzland is an $11 chance in an opening betting race with Born A King a pre-post $4.60 favourite.
