Caulfield Cup on the agenda for JRC Cup winner Jon Snow
KIWI import Jon Snow has continued its push towards the Caulfield Cup after recording a resounding win in the JRC Cup at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Racing close to the speed, the 2017 Australian Derby winner made the running towards the latter stages of the race and pushed hard to the line to return $9.10 at Crownbet.
Out of form runner Ecuador ($3 at Sportsbet) bounced back sharply to claim second, while Boom Time rounded out the placings and delivered $3.10 to William Hill customers.
Co-trainer of Jon Snow Murray Baker said he was not expecting Jon Snow to perform so sharply on Friday night.
“It was pleasing,” Baker said.
“We thought he’d go a bit better tonight. He needed the ground and it was probably a bit too short for him in the last couple of weeks.”
“We probably thought today he might even need one more run but he’s obviously fit enough.
“A bit of weaker company certainly helped him today.”
Murray Baker said the team is hoping to get Jon Snow into the Caulfield Cup, where it is currently a $17 hope at Ladbrokes.
“We hope to get him to the Caulfield Cup, (but) where we go next, Herbert Power or the Caulfield Stakes.”
After an indifferent return to racing which yielded a sixth and an eighth placed finish across its last two starts, Jon Snow fired on all cylinders on Friday, showcasing the talents which made it one of the hottest racing talents to come out of New Zealand in the last three years.
It was a complete form a reversal for Jon Snow, which had not finished within three and half lengths of the winner since resuming on September 2.
Baker believes a 2400m event will be the next option for Jon Snow, but admitted the win at the Valley boosts the team’s confidence going forward.
“We’ll work that one out, but he’s a good horse .. but you just don’t know.”