The Group 1 $1m Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on October 5 will be the first major 2019 Spring Carnival target for Group 1 winner Nakeeta Jane.
Nakeeta Jane, above, will be set for the 2019 Epsom Handicap at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Trainer Mark Newnham will map out the remainder of Nakeeta Jane’s Spring Carnival program after the Epsom Handicap and he could elect to stay in Sydney against her own age group for the $7.5m Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill on November 2 or head to Melbourne and take on the cream of the crop at weight for age in the Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 26.
“After the Epsom we will think about either going a month between runs into the Golden Eagle with maybe a trial in between or she will go to Melbourne,” Newnham told Racenet.
“We will make up our mind then where she goes but it will be one or the other.
“I am still thinking around a mile is her best distance but I will let her tell me.
“Something like the Cox Plate is not necessarily out of her reach though as she has only had one go at the 2000m and ran fourth in a Group I and it was on a very heavy track.
“I am not saying she won’t run a trip and I will certainly be entering her for a Cox Plate. We can address that along the way after the Epsom if it looks like she is looking for 2000m.
“It is certainly on the cards and there is a good choice of races and we won’t be short of things to look for.”
Nakeeta Jane always showed plenty of potential in her early three year old day and was able to claim a Group prize at only her fifth race start with victory in the $500,000 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick during the 2019 Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Nakeeta Jane was sent to the paddock after running eighth to Kenedna in the Group 1 $1m Coolmore Legacy Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 13 and Newnham is expecting further improvement from the rising four year old during the Spring after seeing the filly return from the spelling paddock in pristine condition.
“She has come back really good,” Newnham said.
“She is bigger and stronger which is no real surprise because I think at this time last year she hadn’t really even had a start yet.
“She has only had two preparations so you would think her best is still ahead of her.”
Nakeeta Jane is marked at $21 for the 2019 Epsom Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au while the former West Australian trained Arcadia Queen heads the betting at $10 while in Golden Eagle betting Nakeeta Jane is marked as a $15 chance.
