ONE of Tasmania’s most improved pacers El Jays Modeena will be given the chance to match it with the best mares in the state and maybe some interstate stars when she tackles the $20,000 George Johnson mares’ feature at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart on New Year Day
El Jays Modeena scored an emphatic win at the Devonport Showground last night and won well enough to convince her trainer Grant Hodges that she is ready to step up to the next level.
She was taken out to the rear early and then made a sweeping run at the bell to go on and score from outsider Duart Castle and Jonzaak in the Harold Hawkes Life Member Pace over 2297 metres.
“I think this mare will do better against higher quality horses when the pace is on,” Hodges said.
“The George Johnson is worth good money but probably not enough to lure the top mainland mares.”
“If she can run a place it will add to her value as a broodmare.”
“She will probably go to stud next year,” he said.
El Jays Modeena is owned and raced by Lyndon and Gail Menegon who are the owners of Big Park Stud in the North of the state.
The owner said he was considering retiring the mare at the end of last season but is glad he changed his mind.
Hodges said El Jays Modeena has been a model of consistency this time in and should probably be unbeaten.
“Since joining my stable she’s won three and was an unlucky second and at her only other start she was held up for a run and never got out,” he said.
In previous preparations the mare has had a tendency to be a bit one dimensional but these days she is more versatile.
“The mare still has a tendency to pull a bit when she gets amongst other horses but this time I dropped her out to last and she relaxed nicely.”
“I had to balance her up coming around the home turn, because she can brush her knee, but she was close enough to the leader (Duart Castle) to pick him up in the straight,” Hodges said.