A Group 1 campaign for Jacquinot commences at Sandown when he lines up against three-year-olds in the Manfred Stakes.
The Group 3 race over 1300m is the kick-off point for the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr -trained colt who have earmarked the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes, both run at Sandown over 1400m on February 11 and 25 respectively, as early autumn goals.
The winner of the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill in the spring, Jacquinot has not raced since finishing ninth in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in October.
Kent Jnr said Jacquinot had filled out during a short break and had enjoyed a perfect build-up to his return run on Thursday.
‘You hope everything goes to plan for these good colts, and it has,” Kent Jnr told RSN.
“He’ll present in the mounting yard in fantastic order.
“For us it’s a kick-off point. His main goals are the C F Orr and the Futurity.”
Jacquinot jumps from barrier two on Thursday which Kent Jnr said could be the colt’s undoing.
Kent Jnr said while Jacquinot jumps cleanly from the barriers, he can take a stride or two to muster speed, although he has been beginning better in his jump-outs this time around.
“He’s not a horse that will ride the speed, so he’ll need things to open up for him and hopefully they do,” Kent Jnr said.
“He’s done enough work for the 1300 (metres) and he’s there to run very well, if everything works out.”
Kent Jnr said Jacquinot was about 85% fit for his first-up assignment noting the colt will get benefit from the outing with the Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes still to come.
Price and Kent Jnr also have Maximillius engaged in Thursday’s race.
Maximillius has had the one run back from a gelding operation, finishing fourth over 1200m at Moonee Valley on New Year’s Eve.
“He’s got a huge pedigree, being from the family of Black Caviar and is a horse that can go head-to-head with Coolangatta in half-mile (800m) jump-outs,” Kent Jnr said.
“He did win a Group 3 leading all-the-way in Adelaide but his two runs after were awful, so he had the ultimate gear change, has come back better, his work has been super, and he can run better.”