Meeting switch not ideal for Jalan Jalan
Trainer Colin Little just can’t take a trick with talented filly Jalan Jalan.
For the second time in the space of two months he’s been faced with a venue change and distance alteration after finding a suitable race.
Saturday’s Sandown meeting was switched from Moonee Valley late last week as the track overcomes a renovation to address a root disease.
Little said Jalan Jalan would run in a three-year-old handicap over 1300m on Saturday, a step up of 100m on the planned Moonee Valley race.
The same thing happened to Jalan Jalan in April after having one run back from injury.
Little had picked out a 1200m race at Flemington only for that meeting to be transferred to Sandown and the race increased to 1300m.
Instead Little waited a week for a $250,000 VOBIS race at Caulfield in which she split placegetters Miss Promiscuity and The Quarterback.
“It didn’t work out too bad,” he said.
This time around it’s not quite as serious.
Jalan Jalan has two more races under the belt with her latest effort being a midfield finish in the Euclase Stakes at Morphettville on May 7.
“It’s frustrating when you’re training for a distance,” he said.
“The argument is it’s only an extra 100 metres, but my horse had had 10 days in the paddock after her last run and I thought I was aiming for a 1200-metre race.”
Little holds spring aspirations Jalan Jalan and while the Group One Tatts Tiara at Eagle Farm was considered Little said the filly will go for a spell.
He said the filly was only continuing early into winter after missing the majority of her three-year-old year.
“She missed the spring and she missed the autumn after spending a compulsory four months in the paddock after a knee operation,” Little said.
“The three-year-old season is where all the money is and she only had a few runs.
“This looks a nice race so we’ll have one more run then have another break.”
Damien Oliver, back from a month-long suspension following a failed breath test at May’s Warrnambool three-day carnival, has the ride.