Jack set to sail in Wanganui Cup

[Wandering Eyes]

Sailor Jack could have a busy few weeks ahead of him if he performs up to expectations in Saturday’s Listed Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup (2040m).

The Shaun and Hazel Fannin-trained eight-year-old heads into the race in good form, having placed in his last two outings, including splitting subsequent Group winners Agera and Bozo in the Feilding Cup (2050m) earlier this month.

“He is in good form at the moment, he ran a really good race behind Agera in the Feilding Cup,” Shaun Fannin said. “Agera went on and won a Group Two after that and Bozo won the New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m), so the form has stacked up there.”

Fannin was also pleased with his third placed run in the Waipukurau Cup (2100m) where he carried 61kg.

“He stuck on pretty well at Waipuk, he didn’t have a great run in transit and was under a bit of weight,” he said. “He seems to have gone the right way since then, so dropping back to 53 kilos on Saturday, he is a strong chance again.”

All going to plan after Saturday, Sailor Jack is set to head north for Group targets at Te Rapa and Ellerslie.

“A mile-and-a-half is his ideal distance,” Fannin said. “If he runs well on Saturday, we will probably look at the Waikato Cup (Gr.3, 2400m) and the Queen Elizabeth (Gr.3, 2400m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.”

Fannin will also head to Wanganui on Saturday with Poppy’s Girl, who will be first-up in the Gas & Heating 1200.

The five-year-old daughter of Harry Angel has pleased her trainers with her two trials this preparation, including winning her 850m heat at Foxton earlier this month, and they are hopeful she can get the lion’s share of Saturday’s $40,000 purse.

“She has had a few little issues, which is probably why we haven’t seen the best of her,” Fannin said. “I think we have got her pretty right at the moment. She has drawn four, so she should get a nice sit, fifth or sixth, and she should get her chance on Saturday.”

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