Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Classy four-year-old Jumpingjackmac went into Friday night’s $30,000 WAFL World On 91.3 FM Free-For-All with champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr hatching a firm plan of not using the gelding’s excellent gate speed, but to tuck away on the pegs before relying on his natural high speed.
It was a tactical ploy which worked out perfectly. Hall didn’t want Jumpingjackmac to be involved in an early battle for the lead.
“I planned to go three on the rails because I couldn’t see him winning coming from the back,” said Hall. “I did have Hurricane Harley leading. But that didn’t happen. However, we still were able to race three back on the pegs.”
Hampton Banner, a $23 chance, began brilliantly for Jocelyn Young from the outside barrier in the field of seven and he was able to settle in the 2536m event with opening quarters of the final mile in 31.4sec. and 29.5sec., with Minstrel ($6.50) moving into the breeze 750m after the start.
The tempo lifted dramatically with the third 400m section being covered in 27.7sec. Jumpingjackmac was in sixth place before Hall eased him off the pegs 450m from home. Lavra Joe, the $3.20 equal favourite with Hurricane Harley, was making heavy weather out three wide in the final circuit.
Jumpingjackmac was held up behind the tiring Minstrel at the 250m, and Hampton Banner was still in front on the home turn, with Gambit ($6) looking the immediate danger.
Jumpingjackmac finally got into the clear and surged home to hit the front in the final couple of strides to win by a half-length from Gambit, with a head back to Hampton Banner, and Lavra Joe fighting on gamely to be a close-up fourth.
“We got a check at the top of the straight,” said Hall. “It was a bit tight and Jumpingjackmac hit Lavra Joe’s wheel, but he sorted himself out really well and didn’t go roughly. He is better suited driven like he was tonight. He’s a speed horse.
“Before last week’s race (when leading and finishing second to Magnificent Storm) we tracked him during the week, and this week we didn’t give him a fast workout and just jogged him. He goes better when fresh. And he’s a big chance in the Golden Nugget.”
Jumpingjackmac’s six runs before Friday night’s win produced two seconds, two thirds and two fourths, and he now boasts a fine record of 34 starts for 16 wins, nine placings and $288,754.