Singapore champion trainer Lee Freedman is convinced Jomo is going as well as ever even if no win has come his way this year.
The imposing All Too Hard four-year-old had, the local racing world at his feet when he strung together three impressive all-the-way wins in a row in the space of five weeks between October and November.
From his start in Open Maiden company, Jomo saw his ratings skyrocket from 59 to 73 in no time. He picked up another point at his first 2019 start when he overcame a torrid run out wide to still finish a laudable second to Elite Power in a Class 3 race over 1000m.
But then two consecutive defeats ensued. The boom on the Hong Kong-owned galloper has been a little more stifled since, even if he did not cop a pummelling. The handicappers have since brought him back to 73 points.
Freedman said Jomo has not gone backwards, far from it. Rather, he has gone forward in ratings too quickly.
“He feels good. He is in good shape, as good as he ever was,” said the Australian mentor.
“It’s just that he’s gone through his grades too quickly. Ratings seem to go up really fast here.
“It can take a few months for some of them to hit a flat spot and then they win again. It’s quite common.
“Take my three winners from Sunday. At least two of them, Crouching Sun and Super Dynasty had to wait before they found themselves in the right race.
“It’s not easy for horses to keep winning races here.”
But weights and measures aside, Freedman could not be happier with the way Jomo has continued to thrive, even if that hulking physique which weighs around 620kgs does set him apart a little.
To be partnered by Michael Rodd for the first time, Jomo will contest the $70,000 Class 3 race (1200m) on Polytrack where he will do battle against smart sorts like Sacred Rebel, Revolution and Time Lord.
He has drawn barrier one, which will certainly ensure he does not get scrubbed up to come across like at his last start when he drew 13 from 14. Ridden by Callan Murray in that Kranji Stakes C race over 1200m on March 15, Jomo still knuckled down to the task when he collared Fame Star, who was in receipt of 5 ½ kilos from him, only to falter in the last 100m and hang on to a super fourth place, less than one length off the winner Siam Vipasiri.
Rodd said the better barrier should on paper give Jomo a more ground-saving run, but at the same time, drawing an alley for such a big horse can be a double-edged sword.
“He had a tough run from a wide draw at his last start. That softened him up but he still ran enormous,” said the Australian jockey who did not ride Jomo in trackwork.
“I don’t usually like the inside gate on Polytrack either, and Jomo is such a big horse as well. But he is an on-pace horse and I still expect him to take up a handy spot as is his pattern.
“He should be in the first few from that gate, and hopefully he gets a good suck from behind. I’d have preferred a middle draw but we’ll just have to deal with what we get.
“It’ll be my first go on him; I was very rapt when Lee texted me for the ride. Obviously, we all know what he can do, and I think he’ll run a good race.”
