Jokers Grin’s bid to prove he belongs in The Everest has endured another late setback, leaving owner and breeder Mark Jones hoping the six-year-old can finally make his debut for Chris Waller in Saturday’s $1 million The Shorts at Randwick.
The Western Australian sprinter developed a temperature on Tuesday, which was later linked to a foot abscess. Positive blood results and encouraging trackwork have since cleared the way for his return, although Jones remained cautious after travelling to Sydney on Thursday.
“I’ll just keep the fingers crossed. We’ve had a bit of a rocky road,” Jones said.
Jokers Grin, a home-bred son of Maschino and Walk In Beauty, has won nine of his 13 starts and earned $2.66 million in Western Australia. He was gifted to Jones and David Gatti by their long-time friend and trainer Bernie Miller before joining Waller’s Rosehill stable in January.
His first appearance for Waller was delayed by persistent problems with his feet. Jones had also travelled from Western Australia for the Hall Mark Stakes in April, only to wake to an email informing him that the horse was lame.
“We were planning a two-race run up to Queensland, but then he got a foot abscess, then corns in another foot, the abscess flared a few times and we kept putting it back a couple of races before making the decision to put him out and get him right,” Jones said.
Jokers Grin has since impressed in two trials, and Jones believes the horse is in better condition than during his previous campaign. The sprinter raced in the Winterbottom Stakes before contesting the Gold Rush, but then suffered a respiratory virus and was given three weeks in the paddock.
He subsequently spent five hours on a truck to Melbourne and another eight hours travelling to Sydney, limiting the preparation. Jones said the horse now looked “a lot fresher” and that Waller was satisfied with his progress before this week’s setback.
The Shorts will provide Jokers Grin with his first test outside Western Australia against a field featuring Everest hopefuls Headwall and Joliestar, as well as confirmed Everest runner Ninja.
“It would be lovely to see him measure up to these. I think on his best, he certainly should,” Jones said.
Moving Jokers Grin east was intended to give him access to stronger races, with the $20 million Everest firmly in the owners’ thoughts. Jones said the horse would still need to secure an invitation, but a strong performance at Randwick could attract interest.
“It would be the ultimate,” he said. “We would be up against a very good horse in Ka Ying Rising, plus a lot of other very good horses, but the Sydney Stakes and further down, there are other races here and in Melbourne.”
Jones said opportunities for elite sprinters were more limited in the west, where the Quokka and its two lead-up races were followed by a wait for the Winterbottom Stakes and its associated preparations.
“He’s a big horse and has a lovely temperament, and he loves to run,” Jones said. “Everyone who has been on him says he’s like a big kid out there. He loves to run, and he loves to run fast.”
