Highland Jakk (NZ) Outstays Lord Reims Rivals

A supreme staying performance in Saturday’s A$127,250 Group Three Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphettville carried Karaka graduate Highland Jakk (NZ) (Jakkalberry) to his first blacktype success. 

Bought by Michael Hickmott Bloodstock for only $25,000 from Book 2 of Karaka 2018, Highland Jakk has now earned A$332,850 in prizemoney. His 31-start career has produced six wins, three seconds and six thirds.

Heading into Saturday’s staying feature on the back of a strong-finishing fourth and second in his two most recent starts in Melbourne, the six-year-old gelding relished the step up to 2600 metres in Adelaide.

He cruised up behind the leaders approaching the home turn, loomed ominously on their outside at the top of the straight, and then outstayed his rivals through the last 300 metres to score convincingly in the hands of jockey Teo Nugent.

“This horse has progressed each time he's gone to the races,” Nugent said. “It was his eighth run in today and he was rock-hard fit.

“He put himself right there, we had a lovely run in behind Grand Promenade (Champs Elysees) and I was confident 2000 metres out.

“I know he's getting older, a little bit longer in the tooth, but he seems to be relishing these longer staying trips and an Adelaide Cup wouldn't be out of his grasp.”

Ballarat trainer Robert Hickmott was on the same page, confirming that the A$300,000 Group Two Adelaide Cup (3200m) on March 13 would be Highland Jakk’s likely next target.