Jan Bowen would prefer not to run Jest Crewsin’ at weight-for-age but is confident the country speedster can make his presence felt in Saturday’s Expressway Stakes.
The trainer will make the trip from Muswellbrook to Warwick Farm hoping he can live up to that confidence against a field containing four Group One winners.
Jest Crewsin’ was one of the outsiders at $41 with TAB’s fixed odds on Friday with the market headed by Happy Galaxy whose participation will not be confirmed until raceday.
The last-start winner of the Zeditave Stakes, Happy Galaxy arrived at the Hawkes team’s Sydney stable from Melbourne on Friday.
He will be thoroughly checked to make sure he has taken no harm from the trip.
Whether he is there or not, Bowen admits she isn’t looking to her horse to win the Group Two race, just to show he is on target for the Southern Cross two weeks later.
“There is nothing in the country for him and it’s a shame he has to run at weight-for-age,” Bowen said.
“The Southern Cross is coming up and that’s a quality handicap and that’s what we’re aiming at.
“This is a hard race but he won’t be far away. They’ll know he’s there for sure.
“He hasn’t lost it.”
Jest Crewsin’ is a home bred by Brahms out of Jester Crew, a well-performed country mare trained by Bowen’s partner Pat Farrell.
His best performance so far is his 2011 Carrington Stakes victory and his second in the race last year to Rain Affair remains a highlight.
He has earned almost $380,000 and although he hasn’t won beyond 1100 metres, Bowen believes he is effective at the 1200 of the Expressway and the Group Three Southern Cross.
“The 1100 metre races are the ones he’s gone for,” she said.
“I’ve got no worries over 1200. My biggest worries with him have been his feet.
“He hasn’t got the best of feet and we have to manage them but he’s going OK now.”
Jest Crewsin’ comes into the race off a closing third behind Expressway rival Skytrain and Uate in the Listed Canterbury Classic (1100m) on January 25.
The race features the return of the Guy Walter-trained 2011 Spring Champion Stakes winner Doctor Doom and three Group One winners from the Chris Waller stable – Danleigh, Albert The Fat and Tougher Than Ever.
