After unfortunately missing out on a crack at the riches on offer in the inaugural Pink Diamond series, Jayville Slick will be chasing $15,000 worth of consolation at The Meadows on Saturday night in a GR8 Eight (725m).
A bitterly disappointed Todd Chatwin, 38, who also bred and part-owns Jayville Slick, had to scratch the multiple Group finalist from last Thursday’s Pink Diamond Champion Distance heats at Warragul after flood waters stopped them in their tracks.
“We got to Traralgon but then the flood waters blocked us and he was a late scratching. It was pretty devastating,” Chatwin said.
“I’ve lived in Gippsland all my life and never known Traralgon to flood.
“He looked a real big chance in his heat and it would’ve been awesome to have a runner in the first Pink Diamond finals and have a chance at the great prizemoney but it wasn’t to be.
“I suppose we were lucky they extended nominations for Sandown on Sunday and we threw him in over 595m. He won pretty well so that was a little bit of consolation.
“He began brilliantly and once he led I didn’t think there was anything in the race that could run him down. He was real impressive.”
Jayville Slick campaigned successfully in WA in March/April, when Chatwin sent him to former Victorian trainer Steve Shinners and wife Krystal, winning five of his eight starts and running fourth in the G1 Galaxy (715m).
Since returning to his home state, Jayville Slick has alternated between staying and middle distances in elite company, contesting the G1 Sandown Cup heats (715m), Listed Cup Night Stayers (715m) and G3 Racecallers Speed Star series (595m) – all at Sandown Park.
“It’s hard to know which his best distance is. He’s very versatile,” Chatwin said.
“We always thought he’d be a better ‘700’ dog because his run home times over 600m are spectacular but his best races have probably been over ‘600’. He seems to jump better from corner boxes.”
After last Sunday’s slick 595m Sandown success, where he led all-the-way in 34.09sec, Jayville Slick will return to 725m for the $15,000 to-the-winner GR8 Eight – Race 8, 8.59pm.
TAB has marked Jayville Slick on the second line of betting at $5.50, with Chatwin’s major concerns $1.70 favourite Hank The Hustler and a wide draw in box seven.
“Hank The Hustler is out of box eight. He’s going super and has plenty of speed so he’ll probably get across us early,” Chatwin offered.
“But hopefully we can outpace the others and get a sit behind Hank The Hustler.
“We definitely prefer this dog to be drawn closer to the fence but he does have the speed to be up there early and he’s primed to run out a ‘700’.
“If he’s able to hold out Hank The Hustler he’s a big chance.”
