Simon Tuxen and his partners have had their share of success in breeding and racing, which only heightens the anticipation for the group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) with Jacquinot at Rosehill tomorrow.
Racing NSW board member Tuxen is part of a long-standing syndicate including Lindsay Maxsted, Peter Allen, Greg Hayes and Greg Ingham that has had group 1 success with Inference and is chasing more in the Golden Rose with Jacquinot, which is the third generation of one of their breeding families.
Jacquinot bursts away from Aft Cabin to win the McNeil Stakes at Caulfield last month.Credit:Racing photos
“There is nothing quite like having a horse get to this level,” Tuxen said. “This is a race we have been looking forward to for a while, and hopefully he can perform. You have to enjoy these races because they don’t come along that often.”
The Jacquinot line dates back to Pontiana, which the syndicate raced before breeding a host of good horses, including 2017 Randwick Guineas winner Inference. She has also produced the likes of Dragon Leap, which they sold for $1.05 million, and Illation, which was supposed to be part of the big spring for the group.
“We had the disappointment of Illation going for a spell, which makes being in the Golden Rose with Jacquinot more exciting,” Tuxen said. “You have to take the good with the bad in this game.
“We basically sell colts – if they make what we think they should – and keep the fillies, and that’s why we have Jacquinot’s dam, Ponterro.
“To have a horse like him, you have to get excited. He ran sixth in the Golden Slipper when he didn’t really handle the wet track, and beat Aft Cabin in the McNeil Stakes, which seems really good form.”
Jacquinot is under the care of Mick Price and Michael Kent junior in Melbourne, but more rain in Sydney wasn’t what the stable wanted. Price has always thought the three-year-old season would be where Jacquinot blossomed given his need to get out to 1600m.
“He needs to have this run because there is a Caulfield Guineas in a couple of weeks, but, as the track deteriorates, so do his chances,” Price said. “The better the track, the better his hopes. He was game in the Golden Slipper, but he didn’t like that heavy track. We were just hoping for a good surface.”
Jacquinot is on the third line of betting at $6.50 behind the Godolphin pair of In Secret and Golden Mile, which won the lead-ups at Rosehill a fortnight ago.
In Secret became the first filly to win the Run To The Rose, which she did so with a sizzling turn of foot, shortly after Golden Mile careered away in the Ming Dynasty Stakes in a brutally run 1400m contest.
Trainer James Cummings had been happy to wait with the pair as two-year-olds and the pay-off for patience could come tomorrow.
“We weren’t in any rush with either of them, and I think we are seeing the benefit of that now,” Cummings said. “They are both still early in their careers. Golden Mile has only had three starts and In Secret four, but they are building good records. Two weeks ago we went to the races with some improvement left in them and they got the job done.
“[Golden Mile] put a good gap on them, won by 3 lengths, and he’s going to be cherry ripe for 1400m at Rosehill on the weekend. I like the way he continues to go ahead, and it will be a great opportunity for him to have his crack at a group 1.
“In Secret is the rightful favourite. She won the lead-up that is always the best guide to the Golden Rose, and she’s trained on beautifully since then.” She’s drawn to get the right sort of run, and we are very happy with her, given there is a lot more to come from her.”
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