Cranbourne trainer Dale Short got off to the perfect start at Pakenham on Friday when Academy Jack saluted the judge in the opening race of the day.74588 Picture: David Nagel
By David Nagel
CRANBOURNE trainer Dale Short had two runners at Pakenham last Friday and he got off to the perfect start when Academy Jack won the first race on the card, the $12,000 All Seasons Phillip Island Maiden Plate (1314m).
The four-year-old gelding was having his third race start and was sent out a short priced favourite on the back of a solid placing on Ballarat Cup day. On that occasion, the son of Royal Academy led turning for home before being run down close to the line. It was a different story at Pakenham last week.
Jockey Lisa Cropp had Academy Jack well placed in third position at the 800m mark before being shuffled back approaching the turn. Cropp pulled her mount to the centre of the track upon straightening and the pair put the issue beyond doubt in a few short strides.
The $1.65 favourite forged ahead in the straight, beating Dayton by a length and a half with Mt Sugarloaf back in third place.
Short explained that Academy Jack had some real life issues to deal with before maturing into a racehorse.
“He was a late foal and an orphan to boot, he’s been a late developer and taken a while to mature enough to race,” Short said after the win.
“He showed ability on Cup day at Ballarat and went right on with it here. He’ll go for a break now, furnish out and be a real handy horse.”
If Short’s keen eye and the gelding’s breeding are anything to go by then the 1314m journey of Friday’s race could be the tip of the iceberg for Academy Jack.
“He’s bred to stay all day,” he said.
“All his family get out to at least 2000m so that exciting, we’ll be patient with him now and bring him back in the autumn.”
Short’s other runner for the day, Secret Stealth ran third in race nine on the card.
