Even if Greg Eurell had reason to replace Darren Gauci on Elwick Jack, the trainer would have a difficult time convincing connections to part ways with the veteran jockey.
Elwick Jack is keeping Gauci in racing’s spotlight, riding the horse to three wins from six rides.
“The owners love Darren,” Eurell said.
“Elwick Jack is a forward-running horse and Darren suits him so he’s doing a terrific job.”
Elwick Jack was the third emergency for the Victoria Handicap but early scratchings have promoted him into the field for Saturday’s Group Three race at Caulfield.
The Danerich gelding scored a restricted-class win at Sandown last time out to earn his first shot at a stakes race.
Eurell said the presence of noted on-pacers Adamantium, Sistine Demon and Decircles would leave Elwick Jack with some early work to do.
However, the Cranbourne trainer says he has the five-year-old primed for a solid showing in the $150,000 event, a race he won in 2011 with Red Colossus.
Meanwhile, Eurell knows he is cutting it fine in his bid to get Navajo Run into Saturday week’s Group One Australasian Oaks field.
Navajo Run will make a final attempt to book a place in the Adelaide feature when she runs in the Ernest Hillier Chocolates Handicap (1800m).
The filly won at Bendigo last time in work but Eurell says the High Chaparral filly is ready to produce her best form at her first start beyond 1600m.
Eurell conceded Navajo Run must finish in the first three at Caulfield to have a chance of making the Australasian Oaks field.
The trainer said he had a back-up plan for Navajo Run should the filly fail to gain a start in Adelaide.
“I’ll just back off the gas pedal and take her north to the Queensland Oaks,” he said.
