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Trainer Jim Jarvis is hoping Champagne Rock can win Sunday’s $30,000 Maclean Bowling Club Maclean Cup (1400m) which would guarantee him a start in the Coffs Harbour Cup
Maclean Cup day rounds out what has been a tremendous July Carnival for the Clarence River Jockey Club.
“He (Champagne Rock) is on a mission,” the Coffs Harbour-based horseman said. “The plan is the Maclean Cup, Sawtell Cup then hopefully the Coffs Harbour Cup.
“Hopefully he can win one along the way to get his into the Coffs Cup.”
The $25,000 Sawtell Cup (1500m) is on July 27 and the $80,000 Coffs Harbour Cup on August 7.
A five-year-old by Rock Of Gibraltar, Champagne Rock heads into the Maclean Cup second-up after an encouraging first-up performance when 4.3 lengths seventh to Chalupa over 1200m at Eagle Farm on July 5 closing steadily over the latter stages.
Champagne Rock has excellent second up statistics with two wins and a third from three attempts.
“He got to the line real nice first-up,” Jarvis said. “And yes he does go well second up.
“He needs this run to get condition under his belt.
“We had a few hiccups travelling to Brisbane. It was a five hour trip up and the same back to Coffs Harbour.
“The horse took everything in his stride. He came home and ate up.
“I haven’t done a lot with him since Brisbane but I’m more than happy with him.
“He’ll be trying his heart out. They will know he’s there.”
Unfortunately for Jarvis, Champagne Rock drew awkwardly in barrier 14.
“He’s not blessed with the best barrier. We’ll just have to contend with that,” he said.
“He’ll go back and we’ll ride him for luck. That’s his pattern anyhow (getting back early).
“Hopefully Stephen (Traecey) can be back smoking his pipe with a bit of cover and we can have the last crack at them.”
Champagne Rock has recorded six wins and five placing’s from 15 starts, four of which have been over the 1400m journey.
Jarvis said he was wary of topweight Youthful Jack, trained by Ross Stitt.
“The topweight can pull one out of his bag every so often,” Jarvis added. “We get a good weight pull off him which suits us.”
Youthful Jack will carry 60kg after Kaylee Kirkwood’s 3kg claim. Champagne Rock comes in on the minimum, 54kg.
