Racing: Derby man predicts bold time for Jacquart

Roger James predicts a bold future for exciting Jacquart after the gelding's effortless victory at Te Rapa yesterday.

The Cambridge-based trainer is widely acknowledged as one of the most prolific developers of age group thoroughbred talent in New Zealand.

Three-year-old racing is one age group James dominates - particularly the New Zealand Derby.

James produced Jacquart to overpower a useful field of maiden 2-year-olds in the $13,750 New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Juvenile and the training maestro is firmly focused on future racing plans for the son of Zabeel.

Jacquart settled handy to the pace before lengthening stride in the home stretch and winning by three-quarters of a length over the pace-setting Lord Jimmy Mellay. Brugraway was a further half-length back third.

"This horse has always shown me a lot of promise and speed but he hasn't really known what to do with himself on the racetrack," said James.

"He got a little fired up in his first two race starts and that stopped him finishing off his races properly but today he settled nicely off the speed and really quickened when Bruce [Herd, jockey] asked him to stretch out. He still raced a little greenly as he got to the front too early and started to gawk around but that is something that is only going to change with more racing experience.

"I don't think I'll do a lot more with him this season but I may give him one more race start than a short break. I do think because of his racy nature that he's a definite early season 3-year-old that will be a contender in Guineas races.

"Bruce told me that he settled like a real professional today back in the field and really responded when he chased him up in the home stretch. I do think that he'll mature into a very nice type of 3-year-old to have in my stable."


- HERALD ON SUNDAY