Jakkalberry wins in United States
AUSTRALIAN Thoroughbred Bloodstock-owned Jakkalberry is on target for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups after taking out the inaugural $400,000 American St Leger, 2710m.
ATB’s Darren Dance was on track at Arlington in Chicago.
He confirmed the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups as Jakkalberry’s targets in the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
ATB, which is based near Ballan, purchased the Italian group-winning six-year-old earlier this year for the primary reason of running in the Melbourne Cup.
Jakkalberry started 8-5 favorite and scored by 2 1/4-lengths for English-based Italian trainer Marco Botti.
www.brisnet.com reports that Jakkalberry settled fifth in the “turf marathon”, with Ioya Bigtime as the pacemnaker,
Jakkalberry launched his bid turning into the home straight and was too strong for Ioya Bigtime.
Jockey Colm O'Donoghue said Jakkalberry had given him a lot of confidence in the run.
“We expected a good run. My horse was the class. He can really run."
Dance said they were confident the horse was in good order.
“It's a credit to the Bottis and the whole team back home to turn the horse out. He was just too strong."
Jakkalberry has career record of 10 wins in 24 starts for $1,380,252. Third in the group 2 Derby Italiano in 2009, he won the 2010 group 1 Gran Premio di Milano and group 3 Premio Ambrosiano.
He will now return to England and go into quarantine in preparation for his Melbourne campaign.
ATB's Crackerjack King finished unplaced in the Arlington Millions. He is not expected in Australia until next year.
