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Aug 14, 2023

Jacquinot Seeks Third Straight in Australian Guineas

Widden-bound budding superstar Jacquinot would neatly supplement his stud CV

Widden-bound budding superstar Jacquinot would neatly supplement his stud CV with victory in today's Australian Guineas (G1), but appears set to race on as a 4-year-old—possibly including a trip to Royal Ascot next year.

As Australia's bizarre autumn ritual of dual-city clashing group 1 Guineas races has its latest installment this afternoon, Jacquinot dominates betting at Flemington in seeking a third win from as many starts this campaign, while Aft Cabin is an equally short favorite for the Randwick Guineas (G1) despite his last-start flop in the Hobartville Stakes (G2).

Most observers had expected the deal made by Widden's Antony Thompson and partners last October to secure Jacquinot—reportedly worth around AUS$15 million—would usher the Price/Kent-trained colt to the Hunter Valley this spring. That scenario would ostensibly seem even more likely should he claim a third group 1 in his first attempt at 1600 meters March 4.

But co-trainer Michael Kent Jr. Friday indicated that rather than be packed off after only two racing seasons like so many young entires before him, Jacquinot would likely push on towards at least one new race designed to keep the stars of the turf on the public stage for longer—the AUS$10 million Golden Eagle, for 4-year-olds, at Rosehill in October.

"As with all these stud colts, it's a race-by-race thing, and we'll see how he goes tomorrow before making any future plans," Kent told ANZ Bloodstock News yesterday.

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"The option is there to send him to stud this year, but we did speak to Antony Thompson, and he said the investors are quite sporting, and there's a $10 million carrot there for the owners to keep him in training.

"Races like the Golden Eagle were invented for colts like him, to keep them going for a year longer. And having won the Golden Rose (G1) over the same course and distance last spring, you'd think the Golden Eagle would be tailor-made for this horse."

Furthermore, Thompson said the fact Qatar Racing's Sheikh Fahad bought into the colt in last spring's deal meant Jacquinot could in fact race on until the middle of next year, signing off with a trip to Royal Ascot. Not that this would be Thompson's first preference, with his vote among the colt's now 20-strong ownership group dictated by one clear interest.

"He's a very exciting prospect, and we'd love to have him at stud in the Hunter this year. From a studmaster's point of view, that would be the ideal," Thompson told ANZ. "I am a studmaster, after all."

While the temptation with signed stallions has long been to retire them and avoid the risk of injury, Kent and Thompson were at least in agreement Jacquinot was the ideal type to keep racing.

"We all know what the easy decision would be," Kent said, "but I personally think he's the right colt to stay in training.

"He's a good, strong, scopey colt. You see those 2-year-old bulls who are good at 2 and train off at 3 because they get too heavy. But he's an athletic horse and won't get too heavy, and he's beautifully sound. He's still improving physically, and he's so genuine. You don't see many colts as tenacious as him. As long as he's still got that zest for racing, that'd be my vote anyway, to keep going."

As for Saturday, Kent was warm on the chances of Jacquinot after his two wins this campaign at Sandown, in the Manfred Stakes (G3) and the C.F. Orr Stakes (G1), the latter on protest over Gentleman Roy. After inside gates in those runs, the colt will jump from 11 under Damian Lane in today's field, which stood at 15 last night.

"We're delighted with the colt," Kent said. "He's had a beautiful campaign so far, it's a nice three-week break since his last run, a good weight-for-age victory, and he comes back against his own age group.

"Plus, Flemington's a beautiful flat track. Damian said he didn't really like the dip in the straight at Sandown, so Flemington will give him a great chance to run out the mile. He is by Rubick, who's known as a speed sire, but his damline is filled with horses who got a mile-plus. He does give the impression he'll get a mile."

At Randwick, Aft Cabin was last night a AUS$2.60 chance as he seeks to make amends for his fifth, at AUS$1.60, in the Hobartville, when second-up from a spell.

Randwick's field was reduced from 14 to 11 through scratches Friday—of three acceptors who'll contest Flemington's race 20 minutes earlier instead. Similarly, the Melbourne race lost two acceptors to Randwick's in Chris Waller pair Osipenko and Lindermann. Aft Cabin was still left to contend with gate 9, while his three main betting rivals had inside draws.

"Osipenko is going terrific," Waller said on social media. "He beat Aft Cabin and Zou Tiger last start. The barrier draw was a big reason behind that, but he's got a good draw again. The mile will suit him just as much if not more than the other two, and respecting there's others in the race. So, I think it's the perfect set up for him."

Like Jacquinot, Aft Cabin is having his first run beyond 1400 meters. But unlike the Melbourne colt, the Sydney favorite may be suspect at the trip, Newnham says.

"I think Aft Cabin is questionable at a mile," Newnham said. "It'll be interesting to see their tactics. He's drawn out, and there's speed drawn out with him with Lindermann. There should be a genuine pace on, so if Aft Cabin presses forward, he's going to have to do a bit of work. If he goes back, there'll be plenty of work to do, too. It'll be testing."

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