Jungle Magnate will attempt to emulate his sire Tarzino when he competes in the Group 1 Victoria Derby at Flemington.
Tarzino won the 2015 Victoria Derby (2500m) coming off a third-place finish in the Group 3 Vase (2040m) at The Valley the previous Saturday.
Like his father, Jungle Magnate finished a closing third in the same race at The Valley last week which has over the years proven a good form reference to the Derby.
Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr., Jungle Magnate was heading to the Sandown Guineas late next month, but after a dour performance first-up over 1400m at Sandown in September the stable decided on a change on direction.
“He went two weeks and was narrowly beaten in the Hill Smith Stakes in Adelaide and then went two weeks into a fast run Vase at The Valley last week,” Kent Jr told RSN.
“He drew wide, and we told Hughie (Bowman) to ride him quietly, but we didn’t expect he would be that far back, and he made a huge surging run.
“It was a terrific run and off a different sort of prep, he’s a great chance.”
It was a flashing light run that suggests the Derby distance is right up Jungle Magnate’s alley, however the Price and Kent Jr stable also has the $4 favourite with TAB for the race, Gunstock.
The son of Tavistock, shapes as an out-and-out stayer and has been specifically set for the 2500m race.
While most would shy away from gate 19 – he will jump from barrier 15 if the emergencies don’t get a run – Kent Jr said it was better than drawing barrier one or two.
“He’s a big striding horse that builds momentum and it definitely forces our hand to ride him quiet,” Kent Jr said.
“He’s super relaxed. He was almost asleep in the mounting yard last time, and he won’t get fired up in the blinkers, they help him focus.
“He’s a Tavistock out of a Zabeel mare and he’ll love the 2500 (metres). He’s got a big engine a big stride and I think the Derby is perfect for him.
“This is the race we’ve targeted him at. We’ve gone a mile, 1800, 2000 (metres) and now this fourth up.
“It’s all been geared towards this one race.”
At the other end of the three-year-old spectrum, Price and Kent Jr also has Extreme Warrior lining up in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) while up in Sydney they have the favourite I’m Thunderstruck representing the stable in the $7.5 million Golden Eagle.
It could be a massive pay day for the stable.
“I’m just hoping one of them can win,” Kent Jr said.
