Kent says star colt Jacquinot can roll Nature Strip in Everest
Michael Kent sees flashes of Winx and Chautauqua in Jacquinot, which is why he thinks his star colt can match it with the great Nature Strip in the Everest.
The three-year-old also exhibited signs of greatness in the way he won the Golden Rose Stakes over 1400m at Rosehill on Saturday.
Kent and Mick Price’s sprinter burnt a hot field late on the straight from out wide to salute by a quarter of a length, with In Secret the runner-up for James Cummings.
“He’s just on the improve. I don’t think anyone thought he would do that,” Kent told Sky Racing.
“That was a huge win to unleash like that and sustain that effort.
“I think only special horses can do that where they sustain such a big sprint – good horses like Chautauqua and Winx.
“To come from where he was by himself – nothing really took him into the race. The form horses ran second, third and fourth, and they were on the inside on a day when it was hard to make ground.
“So I think it was a huge win, and he’s on the up and up.”
Kent knows just how big a challenge is in front of him when Jacquinot will line up in the world’s richest race on turf over 1200m at Randwick on October 15.
Nature Strip, Eduardo, Overpass and Lost And Running are just some of the superstars his colt will line up against.
But if all the stars align, Kent believes the third favourite at $11 with Ladbrokes will offer them a massive challenge.
“It’s an extremely hard race – we appreciate that. But when this horse is running at the right time and right place and in the zone, you’ve got to have a go in these big races,” he said.
Kent admitted when Jacquinot was fifth-last at the 250m mark in the Golden Rose, he would’ve been ecstatic with a place, such was the impressive turn of speed he found from that point.
“I thought a nice third. There was no hope for him to win from where he was on a day it was hard to make ground,” he said.
“I think the exciting part was almost his best work was on the line. Looking at his fractions, his sections got faster and faster.
“He wasn’t fatiguing late. It was just an awesome win by an immature colt.
“If you look at him in the yard, he’s very lean, narrow and athletic.
“I can’t wait to see this horse in 12 months’ time.”
Kent believes Jacquinot’s freshness in mind and body will see his three-year-old take the challenge right up to the likes of star veterans Nature Strip, Eduardo, Overpass and Lost And Running by the time the Everest rolls around.
“I think on one hand they’re tough and battle-hardened. And that’s going to make it difficult,” he said.
“But they’ve also gone deep into the well many, many times. So I think we’re a realistic top three or top four chance if they all run to their best.
“And for us to win, we need the best horses in that race to not run to their best.
“So, if Nature brings his A-game, he’s unbeatable.
“But they’re not robots, so you’ve got to be in the race to win it. And if your horse is in the right place, right time, right run and has got that ability, you never know.”
Kent believes Jacquinot will be in prime condition come October 15.
“We’ve got three weeks’ gap. The main reason Mick and I felt the Everest was the right call is because the horse is not overly robust,” Kent said this week after his Golden Rose Stakes win on Saturday.
“So a trip back to Melbourne and two weeks of training for a mile would’ve been a bit more difficult.
“Whereas, staying at Rosehill he can have a nice easy time of it, and freshen him up over 1200.
“He’ll be raring to go.”