A testing 2400m would be Jason Collett’s only concern about consistent galloper Miracle Spin’s chances of turning the tables on Fawkner Park at Rosehill on Saturday.
Jockey Jason Collett (Pic: Bradley Photos).
While the jockey is confident Miracle Spin has a good case to say the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (2400m) is within his reach he’d like to see a stronger tempo than he faced last start but not so strong that he gets out of his comfort zone.
“He showed a bit of staying potential there two starts ago at Randwick, he was back last in a big field and he’s come around widest and all bar won the race,’’ Collett said.
“The 2400m is the question mark, I think it will come back to luck in running. I think they are pretty even horses.”
The Matt Smith-trained Miracle Spin, $4.40 with TAB on Friday, has a 1kg turnaround on Fawkner Park for a three-quarter length defeat over 2000m two weeks ago and a 3kg advantage on Naval College who finished a close third in that race.
An illustration of how slowly run that race was can be seen in the Punter’s Intelligence sectionals which showed the gelding clocked 32.98 for his last 600m at the end of a 2000m race.
He was the only horse to break 11 seconds between the 600m-400m (10.95) and also ran 10.79 between the 400m-200m so it’s easy to understand why Collett would like a decent gallop.
“Last start it was a ridiculously slowly run race and it probably did play against him,’’ he said.
“More of an even run would suit us, I would want it over the top for his first time at 2400m.
“I thought we had Fawkner Park in a pocket when we improved around them but he got that split and was able to sprint. Off that steady tempo he was just that little bit strong late.”
Collett will be chasing his third win within seven days for his father Richard when Super Pursuit runs in the Furphy Handicap (1500m).
He booted Super Strike home at Randwick last Saturday and The Professor at Hawkesbury on Thursday and is confident the gelding can back up a promising first-up performance.
Super Pursuit hit the line strongly from near last when runner-up to Lady Of Luxury over 1300m at Randwick three weeks ago.
“He has a short finish on him which you would have seen last start,’’ Collett said.
“He’s has a good base this time around, his trials and first-up run was good. He hasn’t been up over this distance before but I think it will suit him.”
The six-year-old raced well without winning in the summer and had the misfortune of bumping into some future Group 1 performers as he finished close up behind the likes of Mariamia, Think About It and Lindermann.
“He showed glimpses last prep but he couldn’t quite be consistent enough to put it together,’’ Collett said.
“And probably us learning a bit more about where he fits in and what’s his right distance.”
Some midweek rain to take the edge off the track has Collett quietly confident Ringarosa can rebound from a below par effort two weeks ago in the Agency Real Estate Handicap (1400m).
The Gary Portelli-trained mare produced a big finish to win at Warwick Farm prior to finishing midfield behind Vienna Princess on June 17 and he hopes to be able to make some use of a more favourable barrier.
“It was possibly a bit firm that track and she didn’t get travelling,’’ he said.
“I went back to the inside to try and get her to find the bridle and ended up having bad luck.”
– Racing NSW
