Jackson Scores Debut Win In Merson Cooper Stakes

Jackson stamped himself as a horse to watch with a fast-finishing victory in the 2015 Merson Cooper Stakes at Sandown this afternoon.

Jackson flew home down the outside to record an impressive win in the Merson Cooper Stakes at Sandown this afternoon. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Jackson flew home down the outside to record an impressive win in the Merson Cooper Stakes at Sandown this afternoon. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Jackson was settled in the second half of the field by jockey Kerrin McEvoy in the early stages of the Merson Cooper Stakes, while favourite Missrock struggled to keep up with the rest of the field.

Soviet Secret and Emphatically looked as though they were going to fight out the finish after Motown Lil was blocked for a run, but Jackson flew home down the outside late to record a narrow win.

McEvoy was happy with the way that Jackson travelled on the outside of the Merson Cooper Stakes field and he believes that the son of Not A Single Doubt still has plenty of improvement in front of him.

“He drew the outside, which was probably a blessing,” McEvoy said.

“I was just able to perch on the outside of the group and as soon as we came down the dip I knew that I was going to be in the finish.

“He really enjoyed that uphill finish.

“He is such a raw individual and he is only going to improve with racing.

“He doesn’t really know what he is here for, but he has a nice motor.”

Trainer Tony McEvoy elected to apply the nose roll to Jackson for the Merson Cooper Stakes and the decision paid dividends – just like it did when Concealer took out the Emirates Airline Plate (1000m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.

McEvoy believes that Jackson will be a much better horse when he gets out over a longer trip and he confirmed that the two-year-old would have his next race start in the $500,000 Inglis Nursey (1000m) at Royal Randwick on December 12.

“He is a likeable type,” McEvoy said.

“I saw some similarities to Concealer, the way he just lengthened and he has a lot of scope.

“He will run a strong mile, my two-year-olds at home are a bit nippy for him, but at the top of my hills he is the one doing the big work.

“Kerrin got him into a lovely rhythm and I just said to Kerrin ‘don’t ride the race, just ride the horse’ because he is not a 1000 metre horse and he did it beautifully.

“I will take him to Sydney.”

Soviet Secret produced a strong effort on debut to finish second, while clear favourite Missrock was never able to get into the race and he beat home just a single runner.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.