Jameka is set to have her first race start at Flemington on Saturday in the Talindert Stakes and trainer Ciaron Maher is confident that straight racing will suit the promising filly.
Ciaron Maher rates the chances of Jameka in the 2015 Talindert Stakes at Flemington this weekend. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Jameka made her racing debut with a close second behind Parcel in the maiden over 900 metres at Bendigo on December 21 and she was well-backed in the lead-up to the Inglis Premier (1000m) at Sandown on February 7, but had little luck in running and could finish no better than third.
Maher believes that Jameka has had very little luck in her two race starts to date, but he is confident that the galloping room on offer at Flemington and the step-up to 1100 metres will suit the daughter of Myboycharlie in the Talindert Stakes.
“It was pretty similar to her first start,” Maher said of the Inglis Premier.
“I think they broke the record at Bendigo and she was back off the speed and hit the line really strongly.
“It was the same the other day, she drew a wide gate and was back off the track all the way, but she was really strong late.
“She is quiet a big galloping sort of horse and Craig (Williams) is pretty confident that the straight will suit her and the 1100 will be more to her liking as well.”
Jameka has been settled towards the tail of the field in her two race starts to date and Maher does not expect that to change significantly in the Talindert Stakes, but he said that he would like to see the two-year-old jump from the barriers clearly in the Listed event after stumbling out of the gates in her previous appearances at the races.
“She has been a little tardy away her first two starts and hopefully she is a little cleaner away,” Maher said.
“She will just be where she is comfortable and I don’t think we will be asking her to be closer than she wants to be.
“With the straight you have plenty of time and Craig knows her well so he will just work through her gears and have her where she is comfortable.”
Jameka is currently available at 2015 Talindert Stakes odds of $4.60 with Ladbrokes and is locked in a battle for favouritism with debutant Vicious ($4.60), the daughter of Miss Finland Stay With Me ($4.80) and last start winner Ragazzao Del Corsa ($5).
