Jason Collett confident about Detonator Jack’s prospects in The Ingham as connections declare ‘this is his time'

Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace as well as managing owners Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock elected to remain in Sydney to target the lucrative mile despite initially planning to head back to Victoria.

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Detonator Jack had been set to run in Saturday’s $500,000 Ballarat Cup but a brilliant effort last start to win The Gong at Kembla Grange saw the stable elect to keep the gelding in NSW.

Collett has been with Detonator Jack for the majority of this preparation and was pleased to get another chance to connect with the gelding as they attempt to make it consecutive feature victories.

“They said about going to the Ballarat Cup after The Gong and my manager and I spoke about riding another horse but obviously they had a chat pretty quickly after the race and decided that this was the right race,” Collett said.

“It’s far better prizemoney and a higher grade of race being a Group 2. It looked the better option for him.

“He was obviously very good in The Gong and the soft ground and the addition of blinkers sharpened him up pretty well.

“He has been going really well and put them away easily the other day.”

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Detonator Jack is still only lightly-raced for a five-year-old with a competitive record of six wins and seven placings from 15 starts.

Connections believe the son of Jakkalberry’s best racing is still ahead of him as he prepares to chase a maiden black-type win this weekend.

“He has matured now, he is fully furnished and this is his time the next 12 months to see how far he can get,” Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock’s Darren Dance said.

“We have been very patient with him. We’ve kept him right through to restricted races early on to try and get his rating up to 100 so they we could focus on those better races.”

Detonator Jack, drawn in barrier 15, will take on a capacity field of 20 rivals in this week’s showpiece where the winner will earn ballot exemption into next year’s Doncaster Mile field.

Key rival Osipenko has been dealt the toughest of blows after drawing barrier 24, which will see the Chris Waller-trained galloper jump from barrier 20 once emergencies come out.

Waller has accepted with six runners for the Doncaster qualifier including New Mandate, No Compromise, Hinged, Waterford and Age Of Kings.

Group 3 Festival Stakes winner Phearson as well as placegetters Williamsburg and Rustic Steel have all accepted however Williamsburg will sweet on a run as the first emergency.

TAB released a market for next year’s Doncaster Mile this week and Detonator Jack is a $26 chance while Fangirl and Think About It share favouritism at $8.

Originally published as Jason Collett confident about Detonator Jack’s prospects in The Ingham as connections declare ‘this is his time'