Trainer Colin Little is pleased with the condition of talented filly Jalan Jalan, but is understandably disappointed the conditions of a race she has been entered for on Saturday have changed noticeably.
Jalan Jalan (inside) will contest Saturday’s Vobis 3.y.o Handicap at Sandown. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
Jalan Jalan has been a strong and consistent performer for Little through her entire racing career so far; posting two wins and four minors through only seven competitive starts since first appearing on course in May last year.
Initially, Little entered Jalan Jalan in a three-year-old race over 1200m at Moonee Valley this weekend, but a track change to Sandown has meant the Super Vobis Three-Year-Old Handicap will now be contested over 1300m.
“It’s frustrating when you’re training for a distance,” Little told AAP.
“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.”
Having considered targeting the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 25th, Little revealed the Foreplay filly will return to the paddock after her run at Sandown on Saturday, with a view towards Spring Carnival targets.
“She missed the spring and she missed the autumn after spending a compulsory four months in the paddock after a knee operation,” he 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.”
Trialling well in the lead-up to her competitive debut, Jalan Jalan immediately stamped herself as one to watch with a comfortable win in the Wow Signal @ Swettenham Handicap (1000m) before running third in the Ted Rainford Plate (1100m) in July.
Returning to winning form in the Flemington Family Handicap (1200m), Jalan Jalan made a commendable transition to black type company when second behind Petits Filous in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) in early August, before returning to the paddock.
Returning this time for third in the Jack Elliot Handicap (1100m), the filly out of Impinge ran second behind Miss Promiscuity in the Vobis Gold Sprint (1200m) before a luckless run for eighth in the Group 2 Euclase Stakes (1200m) on May 7th.
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