Harness racing sire Changeover produced back to back winners at Gore today(Sunday) when Edie Jaccka and Jacks N Jazz won their respective races.
Edie Jackka, which is raced by her breeder Charlie Smaill, had six starts as a three year old last season but trainer Brett Gray said she was always going to improve with age.
“She went near enough but was just a little bit weak. We had a few starts and then Charlie chucked her in the paddock. I didn’t realise that Nathan’s one was scratched (Delightful Deal was late scratched in the race because of a foot abcess). It would have been the one to beat so I thought that was pretty cool. It made life easier. She had to do a bit of work and left no excuses for anything else. She’s actually been working super at home,” said Gray.
After sitting back early driver Brent Barclay took the four year old mare to the lead with just over a lap to run and she won by a length and a quarter from Heavens Art.
Edie Jaccka and Brent Barclay winning at Gore – Photo Bruce Stewart
One race later another horse sired by Changeover, Jacks N Jazz won his R47-R49 mobile pace.
Out of the Union Guy mare Surfing Franco, he was bought for $6,000 at the yearling sales by co-trainer Jude Knight.
“He was one of the last lots and she felt a bit sorry for him. He was a big dumb bugger, always going to take a bit of time and last year was a good year for him. We kept him on the unruly because he was a bit panicky last season. But by the end of the season we were confident that this year would be a better one for him,” said Geoff Knight, who co-trains the five year old.
Craig Ferguson has a firm grip on Jacks N Jazz with a lap to run – Photo Bruce Stewart
Jacks n Jazz is named after Geoff’s daughter Jazmin and grandson Jackson. Jasmine’s husband Tony Crofts has a quarter share in the horse, Jude owns a quarter, while the other half share is leased to the Have Fun Syndicate.
Driver Craig Ferguson took Jacks N Jazz straight to the lead from barrier three and withstood a number of challenges throughout the 2200 metre journey holding on to beat Triple VC by a head.
Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing