ROKEBY trainer Ian Callinan prepared a double at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart last Thursday night that left most punters looking for the nearest ATM.
Where’s Primo scored an impressive win in the first leg of the quadrella, a strong grade four over 461 metres in which the son of Where’s Pedro-Lovely Prima started an outsider and paid $29.
But if that wasn’t a long enough nail on the coffin of quadrella punters Callinan’s next winner was Jenmar Joker that lined up in the Betfair Gold Cup final at odds of 50-1 and duly saluted.
The quadrella jackpotted and no doubt left some with trouble finding enough cash for the cab fare home.
At his previous starts four nights earlier in Launceston Jenmar Joker fell and it looked serious enough to cause at least some muscle injury.
But a vet’s inspection revealed no problems and he was passed fit to take his place in the Gold Cup final.
The dog’s performance was testimony to the vet’s decision.
The race was keen to say the least with Damek($3.70) away well from box six and matching motors with the in-form Lika Whisper ($5.80) that began well from box one.
Compact was backed in to start the popular elect at $2.30 but he was slowly away from box two, unlike his three previous outings in Tasmania that saw him explode from the boxes to lead comfortably.
Damek tried to cross to the rails nearing the top turn and in doing so checked Lika Whisper that stumbled and almost fell, causing a domino effect back through the field.
However Compacto missed the trouble and loomed to win in the home straight.
But when Jenmar Joker eased off the heels of the leaders about 80 metres out he unleashed a powerful finishing burst to grab victory in the shadows of the post.
Jenmar Joker has only recently joined Callinan’s kennel but the dog showed enormous potential early on but due to a number of issues has not quite realised his full potential.
The son of Hallucinate-Jenmar Flame was having only his 16th start in Tasmania but he was well travelled before making the trip across Bass Strait.
The dog began his career in New South Wales where he won a maiden at Bulli and a grade five on a country track before heading to South Australia.
He won a grade five over 531 metres at Gawler but after a string of unplaced efforts he was dispatched to Tasmania.
Jenmar Joker placed at his first start in Tasmania in May but he won at his next two attempts in grades five and four company respectively and after eight runs in his adopted state he had three wins and as many minor placings to his credit.
He has a good affinity with the Hobart track where he has started eight times for four wins and two minors.
Callinan is likely to progress the dog to the Group 1 Hobart Thousand with the heats on December 8 and the final a week later.
Compacto lost few admirers with his effort and he too is sure to make an impact in the Hobart Thousand series.
Damek appeared to lose momentum when he tried to cross Lika Whisper when insufficiently clear but he only battled away in the home straight.
The big run in the race was that of Damek’s kennel mate and litter brother Decembrist that flashed home to run fourth and was clearly ahead soon after they crossed the line.
If Decembrist had Damek’s early brilliance he would be a world beater, although he has still been outstanding winning 24 and placing 19 times from 75 starts for almost $100,000 in stakes.
Decembrist has won 15 in Tasmania from 39 starts of which five of those wins have been on the Hobart circuit.
While Callinan will enter Jenmar Joker for the Hobart Thousand series he is likely to set Where’s Primo some easier assignments.