Walter pair take next steps in comebacks

Friday 13 December 2013, 5:17pm

The scratching of second favourite Club Command has given Jacquinot Bay a start in the Razor Sharp Handicap but trainer Guy Walter is cautious about his chances in the shortened sprint.

The Listed race has been reduced from 1200 to 1150 metres due to the switch from the course proper to the Kensington track at Randwick, a move Walter says is not ideal for Jacquinot Bay or his stablemate Straight Albert.

Both resumed from long lay-offs in the Starlight Stakes (1100m) last Saturday week with Jacquinot Bay an eye-catching fifth behind the free-running Zaratone while Straight Albert finished seventh.

"The 1150 metres is less suitable than 1200 on the course proper and both could be looking for further," Walter said.

"But the club had no choice and I understand that.

"Both horses came through the Starlight Stakes in good order and it was certainly an eye-catching run from Jacquinot Bay."

The winner of six of his 11 starts, Jacquinot Bay's autumn carnival was cut short when he failed to measure up in the Doncaster Prelude won by his now-retired stablemate Skyerush.

He was given a six-month break and Walter is playing it race by race with the gelding, refusing to get carried away until he wins.

The trainer is also cautious about Straight Albert, winner of the 2011 Goulburn Cup and 2012 Gosford Cup, who has been given more than a year to recover from a tendon injury.

"They will both be better over a lot further but they need to get some racing into them," he said.

"We will take things slowly."

Heart Testa, second to Zaratone in the Starlight, is favoured to turn the tables in the Razor Sharp.

– AAP

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