In a similar vein to Tony McEvoy and Hey Doc, trainer David Harrison has cautioned punters not to ignore Jericho Missile in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m).
Ahead of last week’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m), McEvoy was left miffed when Hey Doc had drifted to double figure odds after drawing barrier 13.
McEvoy and his co-trainer son Calvin had the last laugh with Hey Doc cruising to an easy victory in the $1 million sprint.
Jericho Missile is currently rated a $34 chance in the Kingston Town Classic, a race that Harrison won previously with Blevvo, who led all the way in 2002.
After a top juvenile season that netted a Magic Millions and Crystal Slipper victory, Jericho Missile has returned to run cracking races as a three-year-old.
He scored a brilliant last-to-first victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes (1200m) and followed up with a close second to Red Can Man in the Listed Fairetha Stakes (1400m).
At his previous start in the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) he finished ninth of 11 to War Saint, but Harrison says the run was alot better than what it appeared numerically.
Unsuited by the race tempo, Jericho Missile was virtually a spent force at the tail of the field and only got warm late in proceedings, running race fastest 33.83sec for the final 600m.
Harrison believes Jericho Missile has been ignored and is the forgotten horse in Saturday’s Kingston Town Classic, the final Group 1 of the Australian year.
“He ran the fastest final 600m, 400m and 200m of the Guineas,” Harrison told The Races WA.
“If he wins the race he would nearly start favourite in the Kingston Town.
“I think his price is a little disrespectful to be honest.
“I don’t think there are too many other horses in the race that have broken 34 seconds for the final 600m at their past three starts.
“It’s not going to be easy, it’s a Group 1 race, but he carries 52kg and you know he is going to finish quickly.”
Harrison says there is a sense of déjà in his bid to win a second Kingston Town Classic.
“Blevvo won five races before the Kingston Town and went in as one of the outsiders,” Harrison said.
“He started at 25 to 1 and they forgot about him as well.
“I feel Jericho Missile is following a similar path.”
Jericho Missile has drawn barrier 11 and will be under Peter Knuckey.
The experienced rider won the Kingston Town on Old Nick (1998).
Julio Santarelli
www.rwwa.com.au