Jet Away finished an impressive fourth in the 2013 Caulfield Cup, but trainer David Hayes is eyeing the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) with the imported stayer during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
Jet Away has not been seen at the races since he suffered a tendon injury in the Mackinnon Stakes. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Jet Away missed the 2014 Autumn Racing Carnival after injuring his tendon when beaten as favourite in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 2 last year and Hayes has been forced to nurse the Cape Cross entire slowly back to peak fitness.
The Caulfield Cup and the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) were the major targets for Jet Away in the spring last year, but Hayes is now eyeing weight-for-age races with the rising eight-year-old and told Racing Victoria that the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 25 could be an ideal race for the talented galloper.
“The Cox Plate looks ideal for him because the pace will be on and he showed me in the Turnbull (Stakes) that he was right up to the class, he should’ve nearly beaten Happy Trails that day,” Hayes said.
“It just depends on how he races.
“The way he was racing last Spring, I think he’d be a very good horse for either.
“I’m really happy with him and you wouldn’t know that he’s had a tendon injury.”
Jet Away joined the Hayes stable at the end of 2012, after previously being prepared by Sir Henry Cecil in the United Kingdom, and he made his Australian racing debut with a strong win in the Golden Mile (1600m) at Bendigo on March 16 before taking out the Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on March 30.
Hayes included Jet Away in the nominations for both the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) and Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival, but he missed both races before making his return to racing when finishing an unlucky seventh in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 5.
Jet Away was well-backed in the lead-up to the Caulfield Cup and was arguably the run of the race after jockey Damien Oliver took him to the lead with over 1000 metres left to run, but his spring campaign ended on a disappointing note when he injured his tendon in the Mackinnon Stakes.
Jet Away is currently available at 2014 Cox Plate odds of $26 with Ladbrokes Australia, while he is available at the same odds in 2014 Caulfield Cup betting markets.
