Jonker crosses state lines on Newcastle’s big day
The former Novocastrian, a winner of the Max Lees Classic and a runner in the inaugural $1 million The Hunter, steps out at Doomben
Three years on from taking the inaugural Max Lees Classic (900m) at Newcastle, Jonker (Spirit Of Boom) will attempt to return to winning ways when he steps out in the Keith Noud Quality (Listed, 1200m) at Doomben this afternoon.
Jonker, a former Novocastrian previously trained by David Atkins, won his first two starts in the Max Lees Classic and the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1100m) and was sent out hard in the market for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) at the Gold Coast.
However, he suffered severe interference at the first turn and trailed the field home in the $2 million feature, more than 21 lengths from the winner Sunlight (Zoustar). He has not won in 17 starts since, including when tenth to Savatiano (Street Cry) in the inaugural $1 million The Hunter (1300m) last year, but he has placed five times at stakes level.
Today, Jonker will attempt to return to the winners’ circle once more for new trainer Tony Gollan, with Brisbane’s leading handler also sending out Glasshouse Handicap (Listed, 1400m) heroine Krone (Eurozone) and the resuming Macewen (Rothesay).
“Jonker is in good order; the horse, he’s come along quite well,” Gollan said. “We haven’t done anything too different with him at the moment. He’s got a good fitness base under him and we’ve had him in work for quite a while.
“If anyone is worried about him and his level of fitness, they shouldn’t be.”
What may make the task of Jonker – or jockey Jim Byrne – more difficult is gate 15, although the pair will come into barrier 14 should first emergency Profit (Dundeel) fail to gain a start.
“He’s drawn very tricky,” Gollan admitted. “We will go forward on him. I think he’s a colt that we want to get a bit interested with out of the barriers and put him up in a race. I can’t see him any further back than the first three pairs, so it’s about how much work he has to do and where he ends up in that spot.
“I can see there being a bit of pressure so he’s going to need a little bit of luck. Jim is really effective on these types of horses and I think the horse and rider combination will be terrific.
Victory for Jonker, today or later on in his preparation, will give pedigree analyst Kristen Manning a second standout success this spring, following the success of Portland Sky (Deep Field) in the Red Anchor Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m).
Manning purchased Jonker’s granddam Villa Igea (Papal Power) for clients at the 2001 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale for $75,000, before planning a mating with Moonee Valley Vase (Gr 2, 2040m) winner Kempinsky (Danehill) that would produce Jonker’s dam Hearts And Arrows.
Raced by Manning among others, Hearts And Arrows – trained by Mick Kent – won her first two starts at Cranbourne before being sent out as second favourite in the Auraria Stakes (Gr 3, 1800m) at Morphettville. She injured a tendon, though, and was retired to the breeding barn, having been purchased by Wicklow Lodge’s Jeff Cullen.
“We had a very big opinion of Hearts And Arrows and still consider her to be our ‘what if’ horse,” Manning told ANZ Bloodstock News yesterday. “So following the career of her son has been a terrific journey despite its many ups and downs. Jeff Cullen at Wicklow Lodge, who also bred Winning Rupert, has done a great job with her and it has been exciting to have been involved with stallion suggestions for her.
“Of course, I follow plenty of horses but I have a real soft and special spot for Hearts And Arrows’ progeny.”
Her first foal, Rollo Run (Husson), was unraced, while second foal Beau Arrow (Love Conquers All) has won five races in and around Brisbane.
However, it is Jonker that has proven her best performer so far, the $45,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase earning $562,660 to date – and with the promise of more to come.
Last night, Jonker was rated a $23 chance with TAB for his first outing for the Gollan yard.
Bullock seeks ‘Special Reward’ in Hunter
While Jonker will not be at Newcastle, his original rider Aaron Bullock – who was two from two on the gelding – will be at the Broadmeadow track with a strong book of rides.
Bullock will partner Baby Wong (Press Statement) as he searches for his second Max Lees Classic, while Special Reward (Demerit) should get every chance from gate four as he chases his biggest payday in The Hunter.
It will be just the second time Bullock rides Special Reward in a race, having partnered the subsequent Group 3 winner into second in a Benchmark 94 at Randwick in January.
However, he has ridden the former Perth sprinter most mornings since the gelding switched – in A-League parlance – his Glory for his Jets last year.
“He’s not the easiest horse to ride and not many like riding him so I get stuck with him,” Bullock said of the Kris Lees trainee. “I put up with him every morning. He’s been playing up at home and that’s when he races good. I’m hoping he can get back to his best.
“It would mean a lot. I know the original owners, who have still got a half-share, have really pushed for me to ride this horse. Opportunities like this don’t come around often and just to make the most of it and get the job done would be great.”
While Lees is well-represented with five runners in his home-track feature as he seeks to add to his Newcastle Cup (Gr 3, 2300m) victory with Mugatoo (Henrythenavigator), he does not have a runner in the race named for his late father, having finished second the last two years.
Favourite, at her first start, is Godolphin filly Sliders (Street Boss), a half-sister to Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Flit (Medaglia d’Oro).
Sliders’ third dam Blue Storm (Bluebird) produced her best performance at Group 1 level when she finished fourth in the Coolmore Classic (Gr 1, 1500m) in 1998. The winner? Shindig (Straight Strike), who scored in race record time for trainer Max Lees.