Timing is whatever – definitely in sport – and there’s a sense of fate surrounding Baby Jaycee ahead of the Group 1 KCR Pet Transport Maturity Classic after the super star snuck into the series.
Being a New Year’s Day ‘baby’ and the due date for Maturity eligibility on January 1, 2021, Baby Jaycee satisfied the requirements by the barest of margins.
As such, the five-time Group 1 finalist and winner of the G1 Sapphire Crown heads into Saturday night’s warms of the age-restricted series at The Meadows with what might be a definitive benefit in experience.
FIELDS AND FORM THE MEADOWS SATURDAY NIGHT
“She was born right on the cut-off!” veteran Heathcote fitness instructor Bob Douglas chuckled.
“She was reproduced by Paul Bartolo, so I’m unsure what time of day she was whelped, however they generally address night.
“She enters into this race at the top of her video game in experience and top of her video game in age.
“If you want to compare it to boxing; she’s the main event!”
With the enforcing record of 26 wins from 44 starts – a 59 percent strike rate – the child of Bernardo and Leprechaun Storm is the 2nd most skilled sprinter in the Maturity series, behind just Trending Zari (48 starts).
It’s precisely one year ago this Sunday that Baby Jaycee began her profession, running 3rd to kennelmate Call Me Marley at Bendigo, and for most of that twelve months she’s contended versus the very best of the very best.
‘Baby’, she is dazzling
CHILD JAYCEE rushed out of packages and declared her 6th success from her last 7 starts in wise time at @MelbourneGreys.
CHILD JAYCEE has actually tape-recorded 25 wins and 11 small placements from 43 races.#GreyhoundRacing #PremierRacing pic.twitter.com/rMkLSgV3hL
— Guard Dog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) June 24, 2023
Baby Jaycee is shooting on all cylinders ahead of her Maturity objective, having actually won 7 of her last 8, the defeat coming when 3rd, beaten less than a length, in the Listed Pink Diamond Rookie Sprinter Final at Warragul.
She tuned up for the Maturity by leading all-the-way at The Meadows in her previous 2 success, clocking 29.88sec (BON) and 29.96sec.
Drawn in box 7 in the fifth of 8 ‘must win’ warms (race 9, 9.07pm), Baby Jaycee is Sportsbet’s $1.65 preferred, while she’s the $5.50 2nd choose in the ‘All In’ market, behind Launch Code at $5.
Betting recommends WA visitor Custard Monelli (box 1 – $3.70) is the primary risk to Baby Jaycee on Saturday, with the set having actually clashed in the G1 Golden Easter Egg Final in April, where Baby Jaycee was runner-up and Custard Monelli ended up third.
“The draw hasn’t done her any favours, but she’s been in the war zone. She’s been on the frontline in five or six Group 1s,” Douglas said.
“She’s won 7 of her last 8 which’s the 2nd time she’s had the ability to do that.
“She was stiff in the Pink Diamond Final (Rookie Sprinter), however I put her in the ideal race. She couldn’t have actually won the Champion Sprinter Final versus the leading grade horse-shoe dogs.
“I backed off her a bit after her last win (July 1 at The Meadows), so I just hope she isn’t too fired up on Saturday. She’s been beginning good recently.”
Douglas ran 3rd in the 1986 Maturity with Camona Kid, which was beaten by Pharaoh’s Mask.
Baby Jaycee is aiming to end up being the 3rd successive female Maturity winner, with Qwara Bale and champ Wow She’s Fast triumphant in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
“What she lacks in sheer ability like a Wow She’s Fast, she makes up for in grit and experience,” Douglas said.
“I truly don’t believe she’s struck her straps yet either.
“I’ve always thought that two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half is when they really hit their peak and barring injury, I think she’s got a lot of good racing left in her.”
