Anything less than a top three finish for Youthful Jack in the Thomas Lyons Stakes at Hobart this Sunday would be disappointing according to trainer Adam Trinder.
Youthful Jack will have his doubters going into Sunday after a disappointing display when returning to Tasmania in the Tattsbet.com Stakes (1200m) behind Rebel Bride.
Trainer Adam Trinder is confident though the seven-year-old took plenty from the run and expects sharp improvement on Sunday in the $100,000 Listed Thomas Lyons Stakes (1400m).
“He raced a little bit fresh and had a big blow after the race,” Trinder said.
“The run in itself tightened him up a little bit. We are a lot happier with him after the run. He looks a lot fitter.”
The Youthful Legs gelding lines up in a field of 11 which also includes Group winner Under The Eiffel and Population.
“He is racing a better quality of field and he has to step up but I am quite content in thinking he has stepped up in the past couple of weeks and am comfortable with him heading into the Thomas Lyons,” Trinder said.
“I am still confident to call Jack the benchmark horse in the race. He has the score on the board and while he has been out of form for almost 12 months from a prizemoney perspective I am comfortable with where he is at.”
“I would be disappointed if he ran out of the top three and even then I expect more than that.”
Trinder will saddle up four other runners throughout the 10 race program at Hobart, all of which either won or placed during their latest outings.
“I am really happy with the team,” Trinder said.
“We’ve got the five and two in the one race.
“They all seem to have found the right races and are happy with the way they’ve all been going at home.”
Lightly-raced five-year-old The Chancer was an eye catching winner first up at Launceston last start and contests the Winning Edge Presentations Class 2 Handicap (1200m).
“I would like to see The Chancer do it for me again,” Trinder said.
“He has won the two races. It was probably a favour when he missed the kick last start because he was ridden back and really put in some big strides late which I hadn’t seen him do.
“We were riding him forward and he was looking a little weak and like he didn’t have much scope.
“He will go back again and we’re hoping to see him run on strong.”
Beautiful Buns also missed the start in her latest outing at Launceston before charging home into third.
The mare appears hard to beat in the Tattsbet.com Class 4 Handicap (1100m) against just six other rivals.
“She was probably a little bit unlucky in getting beat the other evening,” Trinder said.
“She blew the start and came out four lengths behind the second last horse.
“She is in pretty good order and I think she may have found the right race on Sunday.”
