When well-bred harness racing pacer Jaruzelski Leis was diagnosed with chips in a sesamoid bone over two years ago there was only a fifty per cent chance he would ever race again.
But time has a way of healing all wounds and from what the gelding has shown at his only two starts since resuming from the injury-enforced lay-off he could still realise his full potential.
Jaruzelski Leis resumed after two years and four months away from racing with an incredible win in Hobart in which he was forced to race three-wide for almost the first lap and after facing the breeze for the last lap he had the audacity to forge past the leader close to home.
Last Sunday night in Hobart he repeated the dose but this time driver Todd Rattray was able to finds the lead from an inside barrier in the Toreace Flying Mile and from there on in the gelded son of Bettor's Delight toyed with his rivals to win easily.
He hit the line 6-1/2 metres clear of The Majority and Resurgent Spirit, clocking a mile rate of 1.57.8 and he ran home his last 800 metres in a slick 56.7 without having to move out of third gear.
"He is a very exciting horse but he still has to be well managed," Todd Rattray said.
"There's no doubt he has enormous ability and he could still realise his full potential."
There are no specific plans for Jaruzelski Leis but Rattray hinted that the Easter Cup at the end of March could be an option.
Peter Staples