By BARRY STREET
Master trainer Colin Jillings has had a horror run of luck since he arrived in Brisbane with four promising young gallopers last Friday.
"It has hardly stopped raining here since the weekend," Jillings rued yesterday, "and if it carries on like this I'll be out of business."
Each of the four horses, including Queensland Guineas hope Jermyn Street, need good ground.
The others are Borelli, Lamorak and Might Be.
Jillings' mood has not been improved, either, by news from his Takanini training partner, Richard Yuill, that their No 1 winter performer, Tangarakau, will not race at all this year.
Filling was found in one of Tangarakau's forelegs last Thursday, the only breakdown of the 9-year-old's career.
Jermyn Street could not have travelled or settled in better for his tilt at Saturday's $A220,000 Queensland Guineas, a group two 1600m, Jillings said.
It was also hoped that Borelli would get a shot at the Guineas, but that plan had been abandoned.
There was a very strong entry of 48, including the Canterbury Guineas and AJC Derby winner winner Fairway, Jillings said, so there was not much point in trying to make the field with a class-three horse.
"The way things are going, Jermyn Street isn't going to have a realistic chance, either.
"The weather has been so bad the sand at the Gold Coast tourist beaches has been washed away.
"Doomben was wet enough yesterday [Monday] when Integrate just got up to beat Figurehead for a New Zealand quinella.
"But the Eagle Farm tracks this morning were awash, and I wasn't able to do much with Jermyn Street.
"My only hope is that things improve so he can do more on Thursday. The weather forecast, unfortunately, is for much the same."
Top apprentice Opie Bosson, who won on Integrate, has been booked for Jermyn Street, a winner of four of his last seven starts.
Beyond the Queensland Guineas, the Grosvenor colt could also have the $A220,000 AWA Grand Prix Stakes and the $A470,000 Queensland Derby as missions.
The Grand Prix is a group two 2200m at Eagle Farm on May 20 and the Derby a group one 2400m at Eagle Farm on June 10.
Jermyn Street proved himself exciting staying material at his last start when second to Spottswooode in his middle-distance debut, the Manawatu Classic, over 2000m at Awapuni.
Third in the Manawatu Classic was Miss Jessie Jay, who has since won two other stakes races, at Te Rapa and Riccarton.
Racing: Rain washing away high hopes
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