Vastly-experienced trainer Ross Olivieri is confident that a gear change will get promising six-year-old Our Jericho back to the winning list at Gloucester Park on Friday night after the New Zealand-bred gelding’s shock defeat at odds-on last Friday night.
“I have added a head check to his gear and I think that will make all the difference,” Olivieri said.
Chris Lewis will drive Our Jericho from the outside (barrier four) of the front line and will be anxious for a speedy getaway in a bid to set the pace in the Del Basso Salami Handicap, a stand over 2503m.
Our Jericho blotted his copybook when he galloped at the start in a stand last Friday night and lost seven lengths. He was ninth after a lap before Lewis started a three-wide move 1050m from home.
Our Jericho sustained his strong burst to take a narrow lead from the pacemaker Machs A Pearler 380m from home. The two horses then raced stride for stride in the home straight, with Machs A Pearler prevailing by a nose. The final quarters were run in 27.7sec. and 29sec.
“It was a good run and I think he can make amends this week,” said Olivieri who has a good second string in the consistent mare Lady Willoughby in Friday night’s race. Lady Willoughby, a winner at 14 of her 40 starts, will start from the inside of the 10m line.
Our Jericho has raced eight times in WA for four wins and three seconds and Olivieri has high hopes for the gelding who is still an M0-class performer.
“We’re just seeing where he goes,” Olivieri said. “I hope he can prove to be up there with the best of them and I’d like to think that he can be up to running in feature events at the Christmas carnival. He’s on the way up. He came back from the paddock for this preparation very fat and he’ll get better. He’s taken a few runs to get somewhere near his best.”
Star reinsman Gary Hall jun. refused to concede victory to Our Jericho and is confident that Twoandahalf Tigers can record his ninth win from 14 starts this season. Twoandahalf Tigers will start from barrier three off the front.
“If he gets away and I lob in front of Our Jericho I don’t think Our Jericho will be able to beat me,” Hall said.
Ken Casellas