Reduced distance a winning change for Jackknifed

By Josh Spasaro

Trainer Greta Thomson has been pleasantly surprised at the way Jackknifed has adapted to sprinting over 380 metres. 

Jackknifed will race over the distance in Townsville on Friday. 

The three-year-old stayer finished strongly to win in 21.95 seconds last Friday, in just his second start over 380 metres.

“It was a good win. He normally comes home strong though. The 500 metre is a little bit too short for him,” Thomson said.

Thomson is based at Black River, just west of Townsville.

“But, when you’re a 500 metre dog on the straight and you’ve got your legs, he can run when he decides to get going," she said. 

Thomson’s decision to move Jackknifed down to the sprinting distance could prove to be a masterstroke for her chaser who has saluted seven times from 39 occasions.

“He seems to be going all right. He’s normally a distance, 500 metre dog,” she said.

“He’s a fourth-grade dog and he hasn’t been jumping over the 498 metres. So, I thought I’d put him in the 380 metres and see how he goes.”

Thomson was happy with Jackknifed’s first start over 380 metres on June 27, finishing runner-up to Federal Tommy.

“His first run he went pretty good. He had box eight (four) weeks back,” she said.

“He came home strong. I nominated him the other week again just to get some more fitness into him.

“And, he missed the kick again like he normally does. He doesn’t jump, but he wound up and railed up, which was good, and then he came home strong.”

Despite drawing box six, Thomson is confident her chaser will again adapt to a sprint on Friday night.

She was also delighted with his trial form on Tuesday night.

“Box six, I don’t like the box,” she said.

“I trialled him over the 380 metres (on Tuesday night) and he ran a pretty good time, his best time ever.

“He’s not a short-distance dog, but he seems to be going OK for two starts over it.”

Thomson has said previously that Jackknifed was a difficult dog to work out, but she has been pleased with his attitude over 380 metres.

“Once you’ve worked him out, he’s fine. He’s been a good, honest and handy little dog for me,” she said of her fawn dog, who has $34,815 in prizemoney to date.

“He’s over three now, so he’s hitting his straps.”

Despite his good early short-distance results, Thomson added she was not looking too far ahead with her chaser at this stage.

“He’s only fourth grade over the 500 metres. He hasn’t been jumping and at the last minute he’s coming home,” she said.

“He’ll cruise along. He’s going all right.”

All chasers in Friday night’s event are last-start winners, including Hayley Wooler’s three starters – Hara’s Meryl, Lots Of Bugs and Hara’s Serena.

“Everyone in it has got a chance to win,” Thomson said.

Jackknifed’s win last week was his first since saluting in his North Queensland Cup heat over 498 metres on November 19 last year.

“I hadn’t won with that fella (Jackknifed) for a long time and to win over the 380 was really good,” she said. 

Thomson won the 2023 Townsville Derby and Futurity with My Mate Neo and I'm A Neo.