Veteran Jacquinot Bay will be out to maintain his perfect record in this year’s Winter Championship Series in the Final at Flemington.
And his jockey Michael Walker knows the rising nine-year-old will give him everything he has on Saturday.
Jacquinot Bay has won two from two this campaign over 1400m at Flemington with both races heats of the Winter Championship Series in Victoria.
“He’s got to carry 60 kilos again on Saturday but he carried that last time and he can carry weight,” Walker said.
“One thing about him is that he’s a winner. He just likes winning.”
Walker said that was the quality he liked most when riding Jacquinot Bay.
“He wants to win,” he said.
“He could have three legs and he would still give you his all.
“He’s a lovely horse to ride, he’s a gentleman. He does everything you ask whether you ride him forward or back, and you know you’re going to go to the races and he’s going to give you everything he’s got.”
Jacquinot Bay began his career with the late Guy Walter in Sydney and won six of his first seven starts in the 2012/13 season.
He won the Canberra Cup for Walter in March 2014 before joining the David Hayes and Tom Dabernig stable later that year after Walter’s death.
Jacquinot Bay has added five wins from his 26 starts for the Hayes and Dabernig team with Walker winning on him four times from 13 rides with another four second placings.
The $150,000 Listed Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) has attracted a field of 14 with topweight Jacquinot Bay to jump from barrier 11.
Chance To Dance is the early $6 favourite just ahead of Kenjorwood ($6.50), By The Grace ($7) and Onpicalo ($7.50) while Jacquinot Bay is one of three horses on the next line at $8.
Walker sat outside the lead in a small field last start and was able to hold his rivals at bay in the straight.
In a bigger field on Saturday there appears more speed on paper, but Walker also says Jacquinot Bay is versatile.
“It’s a bit of a different race this week considering the speed,” Walker said.
“Drawn barrier 11, I’ll do my form closer to the day.”
