Newcastle preview: Trainer Scott Singleton has reinvented Russley Crown as he chases consecutive wins in Jungle Juice Cup

A new-look version of Russley Crown returns to Newcastle to put the squeeze on his rivals as she shoots for back-to-back wins in the Jungle Juice Cup.

Scone trainer Scott Singleton has been keeping a close eye on the weather around Newcastle as he prepares his consistent gelding Russley Crown to defend his title in the Jungle Juice Cup.

Singleton said the gelding is suited with the sting out of the ground but he isn’t a heavy track horse.

“I wouldn’t want it worse than a (Soft) 6, but that little bit of give in the track is ideal for him,” said Singleton.

The Jungle Juice Cup was the signature event at Cessnock from its inception in 1981 until racing ceased at the track on 2020 after which it moved to Newcastle.

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Legendary Hunter Valley jockey Robert Thompson won the race an amazing 11 times.

Russley Crown led all the way to win last year’s edition from Obvious Step and Serene Nic but Singleton will adopt different tactics on the gelding this year.

Singleton had jockey Christian Reith settle the gelding back in the field when he resumed in the Spring Cup at Tamworth on September 30 and he sprinted quickly in the straight to hit the front briefly before Rhythm Is A Dancer fought back to score by a head.

“Christian said he surprised him a bit with how quick he went when he let him go. He may have went a bit too soon and the horse just clocked off,” Singleton said.

“I think we will try and ride him the same way again this weekend.

“Obviously, he won the race last year leading but we are trying to reinvent him. We want to get him settle and be strong late so we get a bit more longevity out of him and make not so one dimensional.

“Going into that run, I thought I have never had him any happier or sounder.

“I think he just spelled well and came back in really good shape.

“He certainly hasn’t gone backwards from that Tamworth run and if he gets the right sort of luck this weekend, I expect him to be right there somewhere in the finish.”

Russley Crown returns to Newcastle looking for back-to-back wins in the Jungle Juice Cup. Picture: Bradley Photos

Singleton rates fellow Scone horse Dances With Hooves as the biggest danger to Russley Crown.

The Cameron Crockett-trained mare won four of her eight starts including a TAB Highway at the Scone stand-alone meeting in her first campaign and resumed with a sixth behind Pippie Beach in a Benchmark 72 at Rosehill on October 2.

“I would say she is the hardest to beat,” he said.

“She is certainly up to winning a race like this.

“Hopefully the Cup is heading back to my barn but if I can’t win it, I hope Cameron can.”

Earlier in the day, the Brad Widdup-trained Akaka Falls looks hard to beat in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (900m) with a 3kg claim from Olivia Chambers.

The seven-year-old raced midfield on the fence and made up good ground to finish a long neck second behind the leader and winner, Reigning King, when resuming in this grade over the same track and distance back on September 21.

The son of Headwater had raced twice over the 900m before that for two wins and can add another.

The David Payne-trained pair of War Ribbon and Trafalgar Square can also break through for well-earned wins.

War Ribbon has been improving with each run as he steps up in distance and gets out to 2260m in the Class 1 and Maiden Plate.

Trafalgar Square has been racing at Randwick and Kensington in her four starts this preparation including the Silver Shadow and Furious Stakes.

She looks hard to beat dropping right back in grade to the Class 1 Handicap (1200m) where she has drawn barrier 1.

Originally published as Newcastle preview: Trainer Scott Singleton has reinvented Russley Crown as he chases consecutive wins in Jungle Juice Cup