Trots Centre: Jack's ripper ready to return after long spell

As lovers of a Moreton Bay bug well know, fresh is best and trainer David Jack is hopeful that translates when he unleashes his talented trotter at Shepparton tonight.

Moreton Bay returns in the Guardline Security Trotters Handicap, to stream at 7.10pm on Trots Vision, first up since placing third in Bathurst’s Gold Coronet on March 23 last year.

That hit-out was the last of his juvenile campaign, which captured more than $60,000 in stakes across 11 starts and encompassed five wins.

Jack told Trots Talk the lengthy lay-off could be attributed to a spell for the trainer-driver more than his horse.

"I had a bit of a hiatus, 12 months off because I had to have my knees replaced, but they are back ang going as good as new,” he said.

And he’s hopeful the time will also be beneficial for Moreton Bay, with the Group 1 Majestic Son entire growing into his skin.

“He’s a big horse, I had to have some time off and I thought I’d give him the option of having some time off too and hopefully he will be a better horse for it,” Jack said.

“Whether that was the right move or the wrong move we will know in the next 12 months. He’s missed a bit of racing, but he’s a lot bigger and stronger horse for it.”

He will start from the outside of the front row of tonight’s rating 46 to 60 middle-distance standing start trot, and was enlisted a $1.50 favourite by Goodform analyst Jason Bonnington.

“You will see a fairly forward showing,” Jack said. “He might be a bit iffy away from the stand. Since he’s been back in he might think he’s a bit more important than what he really is. He gets a bit excited just lining up.

“He’ll only improve with racing. I think he will go very close to winning (tonight), the best of him is yet to come.”

Jack was wary about the challenges of a horse stepping from a juvenile to open age career and said Moreton Bay had plenty of learning to do.

“To be a good open class trotter you have to have manners and you have to have speed and you have to be able to stay a bit,” he said. “He’s got speed and I think he’s got the manners too, but he’s got to develop.

“It’s a different thing racing against juvenile trotters, he’s progressed now, he’s a four-year-old, straight away even though (some of tonight’s competition) are only maidens, they are fairly seasoned.

“Horses like him have a fair bit of ability, but they don’t learn a lot at the races sometimes when you are doing those juvenile races because they ae predominantly leading or they are not far off leading, so they haven’t been in races (run the way) they don’t want them to be. I think he’s got the potential to go a long way, but time will tell.”

TALKING TROTS ON SENTRACK:

Hosts Jason Bonnington and Blake Redden have another big line-up for today's Talking Trots on SENTrack, which runs weekdays from 11am-1pm on 1377AM in Melbourne, 657AM in Perth and 1575AM in Wollongong.

Today's guests include:

11am: Justin Torney

11.15am: Andy Gath

11.30am: Luke Humphreys

After noon: Friday form panel with Cody Winnell

Click here to listen live and for links to download the SEN app.