Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
The much-travelled five-year-old Jawsoflincoln bounced back to top form at his second appearance after a seven-month absence when he revealed splendid fighting qualities to work hard in the breeze before finishing powerfully to score an easy win in the 1730m Trotsynd #Winnerswin Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
It was a performance which delighted Boyanup trainer Justin Prentice, who is considering nominating the New South Wales-bred pacer for the $50,000 Navy Cup next Friday night, providing he pulls up well after his victory.
“There was a very strong headwind in the home straight, and I was impressed with the way Jawsoflincoln ran away from his rivals after sitting parked (in the breeze),” said Prentice.
Prentice said that Jawsoflincoln did not race for seven months because he wanted to give the horse plenty of time to recover after pulling up sore following his disappointing effort in fading to finish last in the Pinjarra Cup early in March this year.
“He jarred up badly, so we decided to give him a decent spell to get over that,” said Pentice. “He is a nice horse, and I like him. I’ll consider nominating him for the Navy Cup.”
Jawsoflincoln, who ran home strongly to win the 1730m Nights Of Thunder last January, was the $2.10 favourite from the No. 2 barrier on Friday night when he paced roughly at the start while Aiden De Campo got $51 outsider Dominus Factum away to a flying start from barrier six to take up the running from the polemarker and $3.10 second fancy Goodfellaz.
Jawsoflincoln was then left in the breeze, and he showed excellent fighting qualities to get to the front on the home turn and race way to beat Dominus Factum by two lengths, rating 1.55.3 after final quarters of 28.5sec. and 28.3sec.
Goodfellaz, who overraced behind the frontrunning Dominus Factum, was hampered for room in the final stages and finished eighth.
“Jawsoflincoln has a big motor, and he sprinted home well,” said Hall Jnr. “And I was surprised with the way he cleared out like that.”
Jawsoflincoln is by Art Major and is the 12TH and best foal out of the American-bred mare Lincoln Room, who had 41 starts for four wins, eight placings and $33,384. Jawsoflincoln has earned $159,814 from 18 wins and nine placings from 43 starts.
Friday night’s win took his WA record to seven starts for two wins and a second placing. He was placed at one of his four NSW starts, his ten Victorian appearances yielded two wins and two placings, and he shone in South Australia where his 22 starts produced 14 wins and five placings.