Gippsland News: Juan Headed To Jumps Features
- Sunday, 04 July 2010 14:00
Rising 10 year-old Moe galloper, Juan Carlos, proved there’s plenty of life in the old boy yet with an effortless five length win at Geelong over 3000 metres on Wednesday.
He will now be aimed at the winter jumps features.
It was his ninth career success and took his earnings to just under the $200,000 mark, a milestone he should surpass in the coming weeks.
Trainer Allison Bennett said on Sunday the gelding had developed an abscess since the Geelong win and would either line up in a jumps race this Wednesday at Sandown or head to Warrnambool Sunday.
“If I can get his hoof right before Wednesday, the Mosstrooper Hurdle at Sandown is the preferred option, but if we have to wait until Warrnambool then so be it – it is a $100,000 race, so it would be worth the trip.
“Following that I will give him a steeple trial. All going well in gaining his ticket there, it gives us the option of running him in either the Grand National Hurdle or Grand National Steeple,” she said.
HOVERCRAFT HANDY
Moe trainer, Michael Templeton mentioned a fortnight ago he would test his two promising two year-olds in city company before deciding on whether to campaign them for the spring three year-old races.
Hovercraft proved he is up to the mark with a slashing second at Moonee Valley Saturday (beaten a lip by the talented Spirited Eagle), despite over racing mid-race.
“Of course I would have liked to have won, but to be honest we could not be happier – he looks a nice horse in the making,” said Templeton.
“We’ll now give him a couple of weeks off and bring him back for a tilt at some of the spring three year-old races.
“The plan is to target some of the second tier races and there are plenty of options for him. If things take off we can re-assess, but I think he is certainly up to those second tier events.
“I believe in time he will get a strong mile, but that might be a little while off yet, so he will be aimed at some of the sprint events and we will take it from there,” he said.
TRIP WORTHWHILE
It is a long way from Moe to Coleraine, but Moe trainer, Peter Gelagotis, places his horses well and Carneggan Angel was well suited at the mile 0-68 event Sunday and duly saluted. She was coming off a 0-72 showcase race at Bendigo.
The six year-old mare only joined the stable earlier this year and has been racing very consistenly, thoroughly deserving her breakthrough win this preparation.
In the final month of the racing season, the win increased Gelagotis’ stranglehold on the Gippsland trainers’ premiership for the current season.
Pictures: Colin Bull & Fiona Tomlin
