Jacquinot has stamped his credentials with an impressive debut win at Caulfield which has his co-trainer already eyeing off Melbourneâs richest two-year-old race.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr-trained son of Rubick came from a rearwards position to claim the Frank OâBrien Handicap (1200m) on Sunday.
Price said Jacquinot would be given a short let-up before being aimed at the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield on February 12 ahead of the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield two weeks later.
Ridden by Luke Currie, Jacquinot ($4.80) scored by 2-Ÿ lengths from Jamarra $(10) with Queen Latifa ($31) a further 1-Ÿ lengths away third.
Price said Jacquinotâs hopes looked forlorn at the halfway point and he was already contemplating applying blinkers to the coltâs race day gear.
But when Currie got Jacquinot to the extreme outside, the colt powered home to a stylish win.
âHeâs done that on raw ability, that is not something that you can train into them,â Price said.
âEven if I didnât train him, Iâd be saying âWowâ I thought that was the win of a horse with good ability.
âYou trial them and work them and then race day tells all, but for a very green horse who looked like he was lost behind them, to get out wide and pick them up like he did and be strong through the line, I thought it was the win of a good horse.
âHeâll have a short break, the Blue Diamondâs not far away, so heâll probably be out in the paddock during the day and boxed overnight, do a bit on the water walker.â
Currie has won two of the past three stagingâs of the Blue Diamond and said Jacquinot was a similar type of horse to last yearâs winner Artorius.
âArtorius took a bit longer to pick up then was really strong,â Currie said.
âBut heâs shown a real turn of foot today which he probably didnât in his jump outs where he raced on speed and then quickened away from them.
