Racing: Conditions keep Jokers Wild's trainer guessing

Jokers Wild needs the Hastings track to stay okay. Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

Paul Moroney says the stable has only got trackwork as a guide if the track is downgraded to slow for Jokers Wild at Hastings tomorrow.

And the raging favourite for the $100,000 Golan Hawkes Bay Guineas has given mixed indications of his ability to handle an "off" track.

"We're very much hoping the track stays okay because there are very few alternatives for his spring campaign and we're committed to sending him around," said Moroney yesterday.

On a suitable firm surface in his lead-up, Jokers Wild made light of 59kg topweight to race around the 1200m at Hastings in a fast 1.10.24, slaying his opposition.

This time he meets the opposition at level weights.

"If the track happened to be downgraded to slow then we would see that as a hinderance to him. He hasn't raced on anything worse than dead and we're guessing a bit on what he's shown us in training.

"In one of his final gallops for the Manawatu Sires last season he galloped on a rain-affected track and seemed to be okay with it.

"But early in his current campaign Michael Coleman felt he wasn't happy when the footing was wet, but that could have been caused by a lack of fitness.

"Perhaps he's not hopeless in it."

That said, he's flying in training and we're extremely happy with him. "If he wasn't handling the ground, it might become an issue if it comes down to a dogfight in the last 200m."

Jokers Wild was so dominant when resuming that it's difficult to imagine his defeat if he gets any purchase at all on the track.

Alberto lost rider Opie Bosson in the 600m incident at Hastings last start and looms as one of the toughest along with stablemates Pinot Grigio and Giovanni. Pinot Grigio was impressive winning on this track.