WELL performed interstate sprinter Youthful Jack will start a warm favourite to keep his Tasmanian unbeaten record intact when he steps out in the $100,000 weight-for-age Tatts Group Thomas Lyons Stakes over 1400m on Sunday.
Youthful Jack made his Tasmanian debut at The TOTE Racing Centre in Launceston two weeks ago and scored an impressive win in the www.thetote.com.au Stakes over 1200 metres.
The six-year-old gelding is owned and raced in partnership by Ross Stitt and Geoff Sheedy with Stitt the regular trainer of the multiple listed race winner that also enjoyed success at Group 2 level as a three-year-old.
Youthful Jack was transferred into the care of Spreyton trainer Adam Trinder for the gelding’s Tasmanian campaign as a result of Stitt and Trinder having formed a friendship over the years.
Veteran NSW jockey Robert Thompson, who has ridden regularly for Stitt for over two decades, has had a good partnership with Youthful Jack and after his most recent win the experienced hoop declared the gelding was getting back to near his best and would appreciate the 1400 metre trip of the Thomas Lyons.
Sunday’s race is not an open and shut case as far as Youthful Jack is concerned because there is good form in the race and there is likely to be strong opposition from Life To The Full, Too Many reds, rave Night and Motspur that will be partnered by Damien Oliver for the Charlie Goggin and Luella Meaburn camp.
The Tatts Group Thomas Lyons Stakes is the penultimate race on the 10-event card.