Baby off to ‘Classic’ start

[Wandering Eyes]

Bob Douglas says Baby Jaycee, fastest qualifier for Saturday night’s inaugural Pat Haas Classic (525m) at The Meadows, was going so well in her early trials, that he simply couldn’t hold her back any longer.

After a shaky start – she was beaten at her first three starts – Baby Jaycee has won her next six, vindicating her astute Group 1-winning trainer’s judgement.

Not two until January 1, Baby Jaycee is chasing a seventh straight win in the $12,000 to-the-winner Classic, renamed from the Snow Queen, in honour of Hall Of Fame inductee and trail-blazing female trainer and administrator Pat Haas.

“She’s a little ripper,” said Douglas, who’s renowned for his association with the great sprinter of the early 2000s, Carlisle Jack.

“She’s got white line fever. As soon as you open the gate to walk on the track she switches on.”

“She’s only a ‘baby’ – 20 months old – and I don’t think she’s bottomed out yet.

“She’d only had half the trials our other dogs have had before they’ve raced but she was going so good, I said to her owner, John Pertzel, that I’ve got to put her in.

“For her first start, she was in against another one of my dogs that was going better at the time (Call Me Marley), and she got into trouble, and he beat her by ’12’. But I said to John to just forget about that.

“From there, she’s just learned how to race with every start.

“She hasn’t drawn a box either; she’s been winning from ‘the eight’ when she wants the fence.

“She’s got white line fever. She’s the quietest little thing but as soon as you open the gate to walk onto the track she switches on.”

WATCH: BABY JAYCEE (B4) was an impressive first-up winner at The Meadows last Saturday night, claiming her heat of the Pat Haas Classic in a slick 29.96sec, her sixth straight win.

A well-bred daughter of Bernardo and Leprechaun Storm, from Paul and Diane Bartolo’s potent dam-line, Baby Jaycee could scarcely have been more impressive at her city debut in last weekend’s heats.

Baby Jaycee ($3.20F from Box 4) assumed control with a 5.05sec first split and careered away to an eight-length victory in a smart 29.96sec, comfortably the quickest of the three heats.

While she’s the most inexperienced finalist, Baby Jaycee is $2 favourite from Box 3 in the Classic (Race 5 at 7.53pm).

“I picked this race out about six weeks ago and targeted races to get her ready for it,” Douglas explained.

“I would’ve been happy if she’d come out and run second in good time last Saturday. When she led, I thought she might get a bit tired, but she put ‘eight’ on them.

“She wouldn’t have blown a candle out afterwards and you’d have to think there’s another three or four (lengths) in her.

“She’s been beginning good but last week was the first time she’s really hit the ground. If she can run 5.05sec to the post again, she’s going to take a power of beating. Maintaining that first split is going to be the key to her.

“I’m not over-confident. She’ll have to do everything right, but I’d rather be walking her out than anything else!

“Pat Haas was a legend; she was really a pioneer for lady trainers. I remember winning the Loretta Dawson Memorial (2007) with Holly Rock and considered that a privilege and I’d view winning this race the same way.”

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