Wednesday, 11 April 2012: Progressive galloper Jamaican Warrior can continue his winning form in today's final race at Bendigo – the Book Your Function At Silks Handicap (race 8).
 | | Photo by Racing and Sports | |
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The lightly raced gelding, a son of Lonhro who has raced just four times, recorded an easy win last time in strongly company and despite a big weight looks hard to beat in this RB68 over 1300m.
From the John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes yard,
Jamaican Warrior 
made his debut at Kembla Grange on slow ground and crossed from a wide gate to sit midfield and deep early before pressing ahead to second outside the leader.
He loomed up and fought on strongly, scoring a nose win over Vail.
Next start he skipped a grade to a Class 2 at Gosford where he drew wide again but in a small field where he sat fourth early before circling wide on the bend.
Turning third he boxed on well but found one better in Rubypeeptoes, finishing runner up.
The gelding went for a good break before he headed to the stable's Melbourne yard for this campaign.
He resumed over 1200m in an RB62 at Ballarat and was well fancied despite the 60kg.
But after settling second and racing there throughout, he dropped back through the field from the bend and came in a long last. He was vetted and found to be suffering from the “thumps”.
Last start, he had the blinkers added as he took on an RB72 over 1200m at Geelong.
There he sat fourth in the run, before easing three wide on the turn to put in his challenge.
His heart good as gold this time, he raced away to score a 3.2 length win.
Aside from the one bad run he has shown good ability to date and looks well placed here as he is fitter for the slightly longer journey.
He rises sharply in weight but comes back in grade and from the inside gate can box seat again behind what should be good speed and prove hard to hold out.
The Leon Corstens trained
Supreme Warrior has been sound in his limited career and looks well placed coming back in grade as well.
The Golan colt scored his maiden win over 1400m at Seymour last spring, leading throughout to win by over three lengths.
He then had little luck in far tougher grade at Caulfield before a spell.
This time in he resumed over 1225m at Geelong and despite a big weight and wide gate sat fourth before running on to score comfortably.
He then stepped up to 1523m at Moonee Valley and took up the running, lifting strongly in the straight but going down narrowly when third to Fast And Free.
Last start, in tougher grade at Moonee Valley over a mile, he tried to go forward from a wide gate but was caught deep early so pressed ahead to join the leader on the outside.
He turned there but the early effort told and he faded to finish sixth.
He comes into this with three weeks between runs as he comes back in journey and will find this much easier.
He carries the same weight but has drawn wide.
A host of scratching will aid his cause as he will no doubt go forward early and on his recent form in tougher grade he will prove hard to beat.
Java Jack is fitter for one run back and looks the other main hope.
The gelding was a city winner second up last campaign over 1400m on heavy ground at Sandown Lakeside.
He wasn't disgraced when fourth there next time over a mile before finishing sixth at Moonee Valley over 1500m so went for a spell.
He resumed this campaign over 1300m at Sandown Hillside and after drawing a shocking gate and crossing to third he boxed on well for sixth.
This is an easier assignment, he is fitter and is a second up winner.
Berenger is resuming and should give a sight despite a wide gate.
The well travelled galloper has mixed form but is good enough on his day to give a big sight at odds fresh.
