PLAN B FOR OAKFIELD JUPITER AT HAWKESBURY
- John Curtis
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Wyong trainer has withdrawn Oakfield Jupiter from the Group 3 Pioneer Services Hawkesbury Crown (1300m) against her own sex to run in the closer of the 10-race program, the Clarendon Tavern Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m).
“Obviously it wasn’t the way we had intended to go, but Oakfield Jupiter drew off the track in the Crown,” Lane said today.
“There was no point going there.
“She has drawn much better in the Benchmark 88, and Reece Jones will ride her.
“He lives in our area now, and comes in once a week to ride trackwork at Wyong.
“Reece has never ridden Oakfield Jupiter in a race, but has ridden previously for the mare’s owner Bruce Mackenzie.”
Lane said Oakfield Jupiter had come through the $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 11 well, and has continued to train well.
“Hopefully Saturday’s race isn’t a repeat of that Final,” he said.
“Oakfield Jupiter drew an inside gate and things got a bit tight there in the straight.
“She didn’t get clear running until too late, so there was plenty of merit in her performance.
“Oakfield Jupiter again has drawn nicely, so we just need a bit of luck in the straight.”
Oakfield Jupiter has won four of her eight starts, and Saturday’s performance will determine immediate plans for her.
“She will tell us whether to continue on with her this campaign,” Lane said.
“If she races well as I expect and does well, we will go on to the Scone carnival.”
Stablemate Oakfield Saturn, who drew poorly and never got into the picture in the PMC Final, didn’t pull up as well.
“Nothing major, but she took a while to get over the run and has had a quieter time,” Lane said.
“Oakfield Saturn is now looking for more ground, and there’s a 1700m Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap at the Scone carnival on May 16 which will suit her.”
. Reece Jones also has picked up the mount on Hawkesbury mare Cosmeena in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m) on Saturday.
Trainer Michael Vella has withdrawn her from the $250,000 Group 3 Richmond Club Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m), where she was third emergency.
Instead he has decided to start the mare in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m).
Cosmeena contested a Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier (1400m) at Kembla Grange in March before winning a Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1350m) at Wyong on April 4.
Subsequently she ran eighth in a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m) at Randwick a fortnight later, but there were excuses.
She was slowly away, then was held up from the 350m and after passing the 150m was checked when disappointed for a run between Mailata and Pleasure Artist.
