Randwick trainer John Thompson isn’t concerned that a change of venue for the Winter Challenge (1500 metres) to Rosehill will hinder the chances of his emerging prospect Jojo Was A Man.
Thompson is hoping Jojo Was A Man can secure his first stakes win in the $160,000 Listed event and then he can start planning for feature races.
The Winter Cup was set to be run at Randwick last Saturday, where Jojo Was A Man put together successive wins, before his unlucky second to Taksu in the Winter Cup last start.
Jojo Was A Man failed at his only start at Rosehill late last year when he finished fifth over 1800 metres.
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Thompson said 1800 metres was too far and he wasn’t worried by the Rosehill track pointing out that Jojo Was A Man had won at Canterbury first-up this year.
Thompson told Racing NSW website that Jojo Was A Man, who carries the Tie The Knot colours, was a different horse this time in and was very genuine.
“He has a good draw, no weight, will go forward and make his own luck. A drying track suits,” he said.
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Thompson said the $2 million The Ingham (1600 metres, formerly The Villiers) at Randwick in December would be his goal.
“(The Ingham) is the long term plan, hopefully that works out. He’s just got to make that step up to Listed grade on Saturday and hopefully he runs well and we’ll stick to the plan.”
The most interest in the Winter Challenge will centre on the Australian debut of the well performed former French galloper Gold Trip who was purchased to contest last year’s Cox Plate but was scratched on the eve of the race.
The Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustace trained galloper is being set for the Melbourne spring feature races headed by the Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup.
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