Listed ambition delay for Machinegun Jubs

Brisbane’s weather has put a dampener on Machinegun Jubs’ black-type aspirations.

The four-year-old mare had been aimed at Listed and Group races during the Queensland winter carnival but Gosford trainer Angela Davies said a step up in class was likely on hold until spring in Sydney, or Melbourne.

Davies had hoped Machinegun Jubs would line up in the Group Three Glenlogan Park Stakes (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

But heavy rain in Brisbane means Machinegun Jubs will instead contest the Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation Handicap (1100m) at Randwick.

“It wasn’t a race that was targeted. It just fell into place at the right time,” Davies said.

“It would have been nice to go up there but it got very wet last week.”

The Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m) at Ipswich on June 17 is still a possibility but again is weather dependent.

Running on wet tracks has been ruled out after she finished 34 lengths behind Pomelo in a Provincial Championships qualifier at Rosehill in March.

“That was a disgrace, we shouldn’t have been racing that day,” Davies said.

“She won’t be starting on a bog again.”

Davies was confident Machinegun Jubs would not be too disadvantaged by a soft track at Randwick as she strives to improve on a dead heat for second at her previous start in Sydney at Rosehill on May 6.

Machinegun Jubs and In Times Of War could not be separated when the Bjorn Baker-trained Bonny O’Reilly won by a long neck.

“She probably should have beaten that filly (Bonny O’Reilly),” Davies said.

“I was so disappointed we didn’t draw a gate. You just knew we were going to do it tough (from barrier 13).

“We had to get well back and come late. The other filly didn’t have to go round anyone.”

Machinegun Jubs, with Jay Ford to ride, has drawn barrier four on Saturday.

Davies has a dozen horses in work with her latest debutant, three-year-old Albert Of Monaco finally providing some satisfaction after running third at Muswellbrook on Tuesday.

“We’ve had a lot of trouble getting him ready. We’ve had him to the breakers three times so we were quite delighted that he actually decided to be competitive,” Davies said.