The future of Jacquinot will become clearer in the next week with the weather and his popularity with breeders to decide if he is seen on an Australian racecourse again.
The immediate future for Jacquinot might or might not be in Saturday’s All Aged Stakes at Randwick, while his long-term future is equally unclear with both Royal Ascot and a stallion paddock at Widden Stud calling the Golden Rose winner.
Jacquinot explodes through the centre in the Orr Stakes.Credit: Getty
Widden Stud is already fielding inquiries from breeders about the Mick Price and Michael Kent jnr-trained son of Rubick, which could stake a claim for three-year-old colt of the year with a third group 1 win at 1400m on the weekend.
However, his kryptonite has been wet tracks throughout his career and if Randwick gets to a heavy rating, connections would wait for another day, which may be in the Platinum Jubilee at Royal Ascot in June.
“We know he just doesn’t get into full stride on wet ground, so it would not be worth going to the All Aged on a wet track,” Kent jnr said. “He is going really well and unbeaten at 1400m, but we need the right type of surface and that will depend on how much rain you guys get up there.
“Royal Ascot is certainly still in the discussions, but he would need to be inoculated. We wanted to wait until after the All Aged to do that and make that decision.”
Jacquinot has had the perfect mix of sustained speed and stamina, which has seen him bank two group 1 wins at 1400m, in the Golden Rose and Orr Stakes, using explosive closing speed.
It prompted a freshen-up after he got too far back in the Australian Guineas and charged into sixth late behind Legato, only beaten 1-3/4 lengths at the beginning of March.
But Widden Stud boss Antony Thompson knows Jacquinot has done enough to earn a place on the stallion roster.
“We have had strong interest in him already and if we announced he was available for next season, he would have half a book of mares right now without saying a fee,” Thompson said. “It would be a good year for him to go to stud because he would be some new blood for the farm.
“We have been focused on the All Aged Stakes before making any further decisions with Sheikh Fahad and David Redvers, but Royal Ascot is and has always been an option this year.
“It was one of the reasons, their retained jockey Oisin Murphy was trying to come out for Saturday, to get a feel of him with a view to going over to Royal Ascot.
“He isn’t making the trip because it’s uncertain if he runs on Saturday.”
Randwick is expecting to get up to 20 millimetres over the next 48 hours, but it could amount to a couple of showers such is the fickle nature of Sydney weather.
Sportsbet have Jacquinot an $8.50 third favourite in a market where Everest winner Giga Kick is the $2.80 top pick, but he would also be unlikely to run on a heavy track.
Zaaki, who was Queen Elizabeth runner-up on a bottomless track last year, has been the bigger mover in betting into $6 after the field was drawn on Wednesday.
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