Jaws circling the waters ready for Gold Sovereign attack

For Naracoorte trainer Greg Scholefield, it is onwards and upwards with his smart three-year-old Jawsoflincoln.

The Art Major colt has done everything asked of him in his home state of South Australia this season and now it is time to take on some of the best Victoria has to offer in his age bracket.

Jawsoflincoln tackles just his second group race in the Group 3 $30,000 APG Vic Gold Sovereign Final for three-year-old colts and geldings (1720m) at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night.

He made his rivals stand up and take notice by taking out the second of two heats in the series at Kilmore on August 10.

Jawsoflincoln was on a quick back-up from a first-up win at Globe Derby Park just four days earlier.

It was a busy start to a campaign and Scholefield says it initially took a little toll on Jawsoflincoln.

“He pulled up a little bit tired after Kilmore, but he’s okay now,” he said.

“He’s bounced back really well. He’s fine and ready to go.”

Scholefield broke up the trip to Kilmore with overnight stays with Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars at Myrniong before and after racing, but this time he will make his way from his south-east SA base to Melton on the day.

Scholefield said the APG Vic Gold Sovereign had been the target for Jawsoflincoln since his win in the SA Derby at the end of April.

That success came after wins in the SAHRC Derby and Gawler Derby, in addition to a victory in Mildura.

“He’s paid up for these races, so you might as well go in them,” he said.

“He just needs to keep improving as the more you win the harder it gets.”

This will be only Jawsoflincoln’s second start at Melton.

He was third on debut at the track in the Shakamaker Classic during April last year when prepared by Courtney Slater.

He had five starts for Slater before joining Scholefield’s team.

Jawsoflincoln won his first three outings for Scholefield – all at Globe Derby Park – and has gone on to now have a career record of nine wins in 17 starts.

James Herbertson takes the drive on him as he did at Kilmore.

Scholefield only ever has a small number in work and only once in the past 15 seasons has he had a winning strike rate of less than 30 per cent.