Trainer Shane Jackson covets Jericho Cup win with Queen Takes King for Warrnambool ‘box set’

Trainer Shane Jackson wants to add Sunday’s Jericho Cup to his record of Warrnambool feature successes.

Shane Jackson could build on a quest to complete the Warrnambool “box set” with Queen Takes King in the Jericho Cup (4600m) on Sunday.

Queen Takes King is rated a $5 second favourite with Ladbrokes in Australia’s longest flat race for the retired champion jumps jockey-turned-trainer Jackson.

“I’ve won the Grand Annual and the Brierly (as a rider),” Jackson said.

“Won the Warrnambool Cup now as a trainer, so I need to get Jericho Cup, the Galleywood and the Wangoom, I’m halfway there to get the box set.”

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Jackson has Highland Blaze, a $20 outsider, in the field also.

Queen Takes King qualified for the Jericho with a six-length 3800m win at The Valley last start.

The eight-year-old mare, transferred to Jackson from Ciaron Maher last month, benefited from a practice gallop over the Jericho course and distance last week under a hold from jockey Tom Ryan.

“The only thing we didn’t do, we didn’t go very quick, because when the practice gallop was on the track was very firm so her and Highland Blaze went around,” Jackson said.

“They did the full distance but only cantered, if there had been a bit more juice in the ground I’d like them to stride down the hill to really teach them what to do, something is better than nothing.”

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The Jericho course, the Grand Annual, includes hill climbs, road crossings and tight right-hand turns.

“The jumps horses get to go around there several times before they ever get to race over the hill,” Jackson said.

“There’s undulations but when they go out over the roads, the roads come up pretty quick, your colour changes from grass to sand and then back into the paddocks.

“They have to switch legs and turn right, for most of the race they’re going that way, over the hill, the bends are all right-handed.

Queen Takes King winning at The Valley earlier this month. Picture: George Salpigtidis/Racing Photos via Getty Images

“When you come back down the hill the second time, when the race is on in earnest, you’re going right-handed.

“If you can get them to change over legs for those turns, I always found as a ridder it made a huge difference, so to do a bit of practice before the race is beneficial.”

Jackson said Queen Takes King would be ridden quietly – similar to The Valley – the first 4000m to ensure she gets into a nice rhythm under her big weight.

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“70kg is a tough weight to carry for a mare especially but obviously she carries the weight for a reason,” Jackson said.

“She’s a typical eight-year-old mare, she doesn’t really like being forced to do what she doesn’t want to do (urged along early to take a forward position).

“I do really think the key to her is being allowed to be ridden where she’s comfortable in the race and if we can do the same on Sunday in the Jericho, Tom will be under instructions to ride the first three quarters of the race quiet, where she’s happy.

“We’ll know coming back onto the course proper the last time, if she’s still travelling at the 600m she’s going to be hard to beat.”

Privileged Son is a $4 favourite with Ladbrokes, with Mr Lincoln a $6 third elect.

Originally published as Trainer Shane Jackson covets Jericho Cup win with Queen Takes King for Warrnambool ‘box set’