By Daithi Harvey
Triple Group 1 winner Jameka (Aus) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) has moved a step closer to a return to competitive action with the news that her trainer Ciaron Maher is hoping to give her a racecourse trial possibly next month. The 6-year-old has been off the track since her six-length defeat of Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G1 BMW at Rosehill in March of 2017 and it appeared her racing days were over when she contracted a bout of travel sickness on her return journey to Melbourne.
“I thought she was done but the longer she's in work, the more confidence she gives me,” Maher told Racing.com on Monday. “I rode her this morning and she's just such an unbelievable horse to ride. Nothing is set in concrete yet but I think she could be ready to trial in something like three weeks to a month. She seems to have pretty close to all her attributes. She did a couple of pieces of pacework last week. It will be a test when we put her under trial or race conditions and give her a squeeze and see how she responds, but so far so good.”
Jameka's most recent public appearance came in the sales ring at Magic Millions in June when she was bought outright by her breeders and part-owners Colin and Janice McKenna for A$2.6 million. As the winner of group races from seven furlongs to a mile and a half Jameka has little left to prove as a racehorse and her trainer is mindful that a return to racing will be dependant on the mare showing she can compete at the top.
“I'm just giving her a nice, easy build-up,” said Maher. “If she does show me she is back to her best or somewhere closer to it, I am sure I can have a conversation with Colin and Janice to twist their arm to give her another try.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
