Trainer John Thompson is adamant Jojo Was A Man still “has a good race in him” and is setting his sights on spring and summer after the seven-year-old has a bonus run for the winter at Rosehill on Saturday.
After Jojo Was A Man broke through in the Winter Challenge, for his first win since the final day of 2022, Thompson said knowing he’s strung a couple of wins together in the past it was worth going again in the NSW Jockeys Association Reunion Handicap (1500m).
“I had planned to put him out after the other day and give him a freshen up for races at the end of the year when it’s drier,’’ Thompson said.
“But because he hadn’t won for so long the owners said if he comes through well to run him again so we have.
“And he’s come through the run really well, I can’t see why he wouldn’t hold his form. He’s so tough, he loves his racing and is a good doer so he bounces through every run well.”
Jojo Was A Man started $31 when he took out the Winter Challenge over the same course, with 54kg, and it was his sixth win with jockey Reece Jones in the saddle.
Jones is on board again and Thompson said it appears the gelding, $17 with TAB on Thursday, will get similar conditions and a similar run.
“They’re just a good partnership, Reece does a bit of work with him at home too so he knows him as well as anyone,’’ he said.
“He’d been going well and we just needed things to fall into place but the better track was the main instigator of that. When they get into the heavy range he gets through it but just not as well.
“He shouldn’t be too far away, I’ll leave that up to Reece, he’s been going well in the blinkers and he’s ready for another big run.”
Thompson said he wants to set Jojo Was A Man for some of the big mile races later in the year like the $1 million The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange or the Group 2 $2m The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick.
“I know he won a stakes race the other day but he’s got a good race in him,’’ he said.
The Gong meeting back in November was stablemate With Your Blessing’s latest winning day and Thompson believes a step back in trip will be key to his chances of bouncing back in the Jockeys Celebration Day Handicap (1100m).
The six-year-old was his own worst enemy when finishing second last behind Robusto over 1300m two weeks ago.
“I stepped him up to the 1300m last start and that just didn’t work out,’’ he said.
“He got onto the bridle too much and pulled himself into the ground. Back to the 1100m, a good draw, we’ve claimed with him and he should bounce back.”
With Your Blessing carries 60kg after the claim for Jett Stanley and jumps from the inside barrier.
– Racing NSW
