3 minute read

The north Queensland heat appears to agree with rejuvenated sprinter King Jester but it’s the winter where trained Rod Miller hopes the gelding can excel.

King Jester has reignited his career winning three of his past four starts after a 19-month form slump saw him win only one race in 17 starts as a late three and four-year-old.

Now a five-year-old, King Jester is set to clash with new stablemate Le Vizir in the Open Handicap over 1250 metres at Cairns on Tuesday.

King Jester - a Tessa Townsend mount – won three straight from his first four runs back this campaign before finishing a well beaten second to the Stephen Massingham-trained Bold Type on a heavy track at Cannon Park in mid-February.

At one stage of his three-year-old year, Miller contemplated sending King Jester to Brisbane for a shot at the QTIS Jewel Final before a late decision to abandon the trip.

"He's a summer horse for some reason," Miller said.

"He looks terrible in the winter and terrific in the summer."

Despite King Jester's winter looks, Miller is hoping to qualify him for the Battle Of The Bush Final at Eagle Farm in June while Le Vizir will aim for the Cleveland Bay Handicap at Townsville in August.

"King Jester has missed a bit of work with a stone bruise but he should lead this field and be hard to run down," Miller said.

"He's an open company horse now and he's just finding it a bit tough.

"I'm hoping to get him ready for the Battle Of The Bush final in Brisbane but he needs to have five runs in the country and he's only had a couple so far."

Miller has given punters a lead with his preference for Le Vizir who is having only his second start for the stable after being moved on from Gareth Smith's barn.

Le Vizir - a Jackson Murphy mount - beat two home when fifth in his stable debut behind Battle Cry in a 1250-metre Open at Cairns on March 3.

"He's only been in the table about two months and his first run was good but he tended to over race," Miller said.

"I didn't know much about him when he first came to the stable but he'll be hard to beat in this race.

"I'm only going to give him a couple of runs then he'll have four weeks off before he's freshened up for the Cleveland Bay and Cairns Newmarket during winter carnival."