3 minute read
A tilt towards the ATC Oaks shows the high regard Paul Jones holds with promising filly Just A Blur following her dominant display at Canberra last week.
Successful in notching up her second career victory the daughter of Dane Shadow proved ultra impressive when showcasing a devastating turn of foot to salute by four lengths.
"I thought she would have got two or three lengths further back then she did, it was a great ride from Jeff [Penza] he saved a lot of ground by getting her in just off the speed," Jones said.
"He said he just had to sit and steer, she pulled herself into the race and did the rest herself.
"I was very happy going into the race with her, I was confident she was going to win but not that well.
"A lot of people have commented that they haven't seen a win like that at Canberra for a couple of years, it was very pleasing."
Having always held Just A Blur in high regard Jones said he will now turn his attention to the Listed Canberra Guineas.
"She'll stay in Canberra for the Jack Thomas on the 23rd and then all going well she'll press on to the Guineas," Jones said.
"I don't think it will attract too many Sydney horses, it will likely just be the local horses so I expect her to be very hard to beat again.
"I've always had a high opinion of her and we will look to aim pretty high with her and see where she can take us in the Autumn."
By Dane Shadow out of a Woodman mare, Jones plans to head down the ATC Oaks path if she can continue to raise the bar this time in.
"She's out of a Woodman mare so hopefully that should give us a bit of stout, they are only a three-year-old once so we will aim her up at the Oaks and hopefully she can maintain her speed at the end of it," Jones said.
"The first initial goal is the Jack Thomas and the Canberra Guineas and with all going to plan then maybe the Keith Nolan and just progress through.
"I knew she was going well after she worked with Caprossa a couple of weeks ago prior to having a jump-out, she held her own on that occasion so I knew we were on track after that."
