An ideal barrier has given Strathalbyn sprinter One More Jack a perfect chance at Listed success in Saturday’s $100,000 City of Marion Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.
Trainer Shane Oxlade said he couldn’t be happier with five-year-old, who has drawn barrier two in a race where there looks to be some speed drawn wide out on the track.
“I’m really happy with him, happy with the draw and also happy with where some of the other have drawn,” Oxlade said.
“There looks to be some speed drawn out wide, and from barrier two we can dictate a little bit. If they want to go silly up front then I’d be more than happy to see him getting a sit in a race like this just behind them.”
One More Jack has won seven of 12 starts and Oxlade said the horse had some through his first trip away in good order.
He went to Melbourne for the first time running at Flemington on Cup Day, finishing sixth behind Exhilarates, beaten a touch under three lengths.
“I thought it was arguably his best run,” Oxlade said.
“He looked in a bit of trouble at the 400m mark but rallied again and wasn’t beaten far. I was very happy with his run.”
One More Jack is unbeaten in three starts at Morphettville, the latest back in April, but the one thing different this time around will be a new jockey, with Paul Gatt taking the reins, deputising for regular rider Justin Potter, who is sidelined through injury.
“‘Gatty’ rode him in jump-out here on Monday and was pretty happy with him, given he doesn’t know the horse,” Oxlade said.
“He won his jump-put which was good to see. He hadn’t done a lot since he came back from Melbourne and I am sure he’ll run well on Saturday.”
One More Jack is marked a $4.20 second favourite with tab.com.au behind the Phillip Stokes-trained Too Good Too Hard, who comes off a slashing run in the Group 3 Begonia Belle at Flemington on Derby Day.
