Well, that’s the good news, Cool Jakey has pulled up okay after what can only be described as a “train wreck” on Saturday at Royal Randwick.
Yes, there’s no hiding everyone’s disappointment at what was clearly a lost opportunity to post a win at the headquarters of Sydney racing with a very promising horse in Cool Jakey.
TALE OF WOE
There was so much excitement among the enthusiastic NSW Tycoons owners who had turned out to see if Cool Jakey could go back-to-back after his stunning win at Warwick Farm.
Bookmakers certainly thought he could and installed him as a short-priced $3 favourite.
Most thought Felix Majestic would lead, and the tactics were to take a sit behind that horse and let Cool Jakey find his own rhythm.
Well, that went out the window shortly after the start when, according to jockey Tyler Schiller, he couldn’t hold the horse, and the two set a “suicidal” speed up front. Clocking sectionals of 10.37sec (1200-1000m), 10.56sec (1000-800m) and 10.92sec (800-600m).
“That was suicide up front, I’m not sure what was going on there but they went way too quick” Trainer Joe Pride
JOCKEY COULDN’T EASE HIM
Tyler Schiller is leading the premiership in NSW and is the only jockey to ever ride Cool Jakey meaning his 3 wins have all been for Tyler.
“I feel like the blinkers just fired up with that horse on his outside. I couldn’t go any slower, and I couldn’t go any quicker; he was just in an awkward spot where he wouldn’t slow down and relax for me.
“He wouldn’t come back, he got up charging,” jockey Tyler Schiller said.
JOE SAYS JAKEY IS WELL
Cool Jakey pulled up well immediately after the race, and Joe had him back under saddle on Monday morning at Warwick Farm and his regular riding said he felt completely normal. So that’s a great sign and a relief.
“What we saw on Saturday was a combination of a few things. The ride, breakneck speed up front with ridiculous sectionals, Tyler explained he couldn’t hold him slower and then the firmness of the track didn’t help on the back off that great win on the Heavy track the start before.” said trainer Joe Pride
NEXT STEPS – A SPELL
Cool Jakey had come off a long injury break leading into this preparation, so Joe is now keen to give him a six-week spell.
“That will get him back for the late part of the Autumn and onto tracks that will suit him better with the firmness out of the ground.
That was no fluke his win at Warwick Farm so he’s clearly a very good horse, particularly with the sting out of the track.
So while it was a disastrous result on Saturday, the horse is good and we’ll have some fun over late Autumn and the Winter” Joe concluded.