Jacobsen kennel ready for Victorian Group 1 glory

By Jordan Gerrans

Trainer Robert Jacobsen believes his kennel have their best chance yet to claim a maiden Group 1 title on Thursday night.

The Moorooka-based trainer has been in Victoria in recent weeks along with kennel star Crazy Cool, building towards Thursday evening's Group 1 Sapphire Crown Final at Sandown Park.

The bitch qualified for the Final last Thursday evening at Sandown, claiming her heat from box three in a time of 29.60 seconds over the 515-metre trip by just over a length.

“I thought she could have run home quicker, because she is pretty strong and can run 600 metres,” Jacobsen said.

“The run in the heat will top her off hopefully.

“I suppose when you go that quick early on, you cannot do it at both ends unless you are some king of superstar.

“I would rather do it at the front end to start with.”

Crazy Cool, a winner of 13 from 33 career starts, has drawn the all-important red rag for the Final this week and Jacobsen believes the box one draw is key to her chances.

“She has got her work cut out because this is a great field but she has the right box, which is always a good start,” he said.

“There is a lot of speed in this race, there could be some carnage on the first corner so hopefully we are able to miss that.

“They will all be cutting across to the fence so she will need to muster up early, like she did last week.

“When she is on, she is on.

“They are all fast bitches and will be coming from the fence from out wide and hopefully we can give them something to catch and then hold on.”

Jacobsen has trained on and off for much of his life but is yet to crack a Group 1 crown.

He is Group 1-placed with Crazy Cool, who has also won at Group 2 and 3 level, and thinks the Group 1 Sapphire Crown Final presents his best chance yet to break through.

“She has been a bridesmaid in a few Group races, just getting beaten as she has done,” he said.

“I think this is her best chance to win a Group 1, with the box the way it is and she is getting back in form after losing some of her best form earlier on.

“She will be at her peak this run or over the next few.”

Queensland trainer Jacobsen has been in Victoria for the last couple of weeks, taking only Crazy Cool down from his kennel to best focus his attention on her southern campaign.

Jacobsen says he has been welcomed into the Victorian greyhound community with open arms, with other trainers letting him use walking machines, showing him around and introducing him to others within the industry.

Following Thursday’s Group 1 Sapphire Crown Final at Sandown Park, Crazy Cool is likely to head back to the Sunshine State with Jacobsen hopeful of getting her in the $375,000 Group 1 Sky Racing Brisbane Cup.

Before that, a tilt at the Origin greyhound series looks an appealing option for the kennel.

The Origin Series returns on June 17 with two $60,000 Group 3 races – the Origin Sprint and Origin Distance – where competing dogs will be selected by Queensland and NSW respectively.