Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr have once again stamped their authority on the three-year-old ranks in Victoria as Jacquinot bolted in to win the Group 3 H.D.F. McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
The colt by Rubick was resuming in the $200,000 event after a fast-finishing sixth in the Golden Slipper (1200m) earlier in the year, so he has now booked himself a plane ticket to Sydney for a shot at the Golden Rose (1400m), before returning to Melbourne for the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in October.
After settling in the second half of the field under Damien Lane, Jacquinot was presented to the middle of the track and descended on the short-priced Aft Cabin in the concluding stages to career away and win by a length and a half.
The runner-up Aft Cabin would no doubt have lost no admirers, while Tijuana was eye-catching in third, hitting the line strongly under Michael Dee.
2022 McNeil Stakes Replay
Co-trained Michael Kent Jnr said Jacquinot will now go to the Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney following Saturday’s victory.
“It worked out lovely,” Kent said.
“He is sticky out of the gates and he takes a lot of muster, but it worked out beautifully behind Aft Cabin.
“The race opened up nicely for him. You’ve got to love the way he lengthened stride.
“He doesn’t quicken up, but he just lengthened up and he covers the ground so beautifully.
“Really keen to see this horse over a bit further next start.”
Kent Jnr said that the talented horse has really matured physically and mentally over the course of his winter spell, but he’s confident that the horse has taken the next step.
“In the Blue Diamond here against all these colts, he was the most immature horse,” he said.
“Scopey, leggy, yet to furnish. Now today, he’d really filled out and you could tell.
“I think next start we’ll go to the Run To The Rose in Sydney, then the Golden Rose and then back for the Caulfield Guineas, so it’s very exciting.”
Jacquinot is now an $8 hope in the Golden Rose, while he is the $7 favourite for the Caulfield Guineas with online bookmakers.
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