A crucial fitness test and a break in the weather will determine whether the talented Jacquinot Bay makes his return to racing at Randwick.
Trainer Guy Walter has entered the lightly-raced six-year-old for the 1150m benchmark 85 race on the Kensington track at Randwick on Saturday.
Walter plans a short summer campaign for Jacquinot Bay after which he and the horse’s owners will discuss autumn options.
“He will have a gallop on the course proper at Goulburn on Tuesday and then we’ll decide whether to bring him back on Saturday,” Walter said.
“The weather is also a factor. I’d like it to stop raining.
“We aimed high with him last time and it didn’t work out so our aspirations may be a little more modest this time.
“We won’t be getting carried away.”
The winner of six of his 10 starts, Jacquinot Bay hasn’t raced since he was unplaced in the Doncaster Prelude in April won by his now-retired stablemate Skyerush.
Another stablemate, Forarainyday is entered in the same race as Jacquinot Bay at Randwick and also the fillies and mares benchmark 80 over the same distance for her first start since June.
She is at Walter’s Warwick Farm stable ready to race with residual fitness on her side after being prepared for a race at Flemington last Thursday week.
“She was entered for Mumm Stakes on Oaks day but she didn’t get a run,” Walter said.
“She is very, very good fresh so her future campaigns will be very short with short spells in between.
“We just have to decide which race to run her in on Saturday.”
Forarainyday has been Group placed twice. She was third behind More Joyous and Skyerush in the 2012 Group Three Golden Pendant and third in the Group Two Sapphire Stakes in April behind Arinosa and Miss Stellabelle.
