Russell Jack is looking ahead to the Nutrien Equine Classic Race Series 4 following his bitter-sweet sojourn to last week’s Bathurst carnival.
The Jack-trained Its Confidential, who was sent out a $2.50 favorite in the Gold Chalice final, lost all winning chance when he galloped while racing in restricted room with 1300 metres to travel.
Ironically, it paved the way for stablemate Jacks Ultimate Fury to lob in the one-out one-back trail and ultimately win the race.
Jack is hoping for better fortunes when Its Confidential contests the first heat of the Nutrien series for three-year-old colts and geldings at Melton on Friday.
Its Confidential has drawn the outside in a field of seven, which includes the Emma Stewart-trained Apollostorm, who scored by 30 metres at Melton last Saturday night, and his stablemate Cigano, who saluted at Geelong in his first outing since July last year.
Jack is not getting ahead of himself prior to the $125,000 final at Melton next Friday night (April 11).
“Our aim is to qualify for the final and it won’t be easy from the draw as he will probably have to sit outside the leader,” Jack said.
The son of Poster Boy burst onto the scene 12 months ago, winning his first three outings before finishing midfield behind The Highland Reel in the Nutrien Equine Classic two-year-old colts and geldings final.
“He drew 12 in the final and he didn’t go too bad,” Jack said.
Jack believes Its Confidential is a more worthy conveyance this year.
“He is a stronger horse and is getting better all the time, but that’s what good horses do,” he said.
The Highland Reel, who is well placed to complete the two-year-old and three-year-old double after drawing barrier two in the second heat, is the flagship of the series.
Purchased for only $10,000 at the 2023 Nutrien Yearling Sales, The Highland Reel has won five races on his way to amassing almost $290,000 in prizemoney.
That figure could have easily drawn closer to $500,000 should The Highland Reel have prevailed in the $500,000 Protostar slot race instead of going under by half a head to Fate Awaits.
Jack is also set to play a key role in the two-year-old colts and geldings’ series with You Gotta Believe It, who won his first two starts before finishing fifth in the Gold Crown final at Bathurst.
Similarly, the Stewart-trained Willlows Girl appears the horse to beat in the heat for two-year-old fillies.
The daughter of Sweet Lou scored on debut in a heat of the Gold Tiara before giving her rivals a tidy start and making up plenty of ground when fifth behind stablemate Ripples in the final.
Picture: Its Confidential – Club Menangle
