Mackay's One Fear Ahead Of Good Juan's Cup Tilt

MASTER NSW trainer Jason Mackay has only one fear ahead of Good Juan’s Sydney Cup assault which gets underway this Friday night.

MASTER NSW trainer Jason Mackay has only one fear ahead of Good Juan's Sydney Cup assault which gets underway at Wentworth Park this Friday night.

That fear is Good Juan himself – and there's good reason why.

Last Saturday night the gifted chaser capped off his Sydney Cup preparations with a bone-rattling last-to-first victory over the 720 metres in 42.43 seconds.

The performance was trademark Good Juan, as it was back in June when he mesmerised sports lovers with an astonishing sprint win that sent social media into a tailspin.

But as new trainer Jason Mackay is quickly discovering, with that unbridled ability comes a sizable bag of quirks, as evidenced in the lead up to Saturday night's powerhouse victory.

"I trialled him twice at Wentworth Park last Tuesday and he just didn't go … I got about 100 metres out of him," Mackay said. "It was embarrassing to be honest.

"And then he comes out and does that on Saturday night.

"He was way underdone and he's given a Group One winner that's broken track records a start and a beating.

"With him you throw the training handbook out the window!"

Mackay, renowned for his prowess with top flight stayers during his glittering training career to date, has a self-confessed low tolerance for nonsense.

"When I packed (handler) Milo and (daughter) April away to leave for the track on Saturday I said he'll either win or cop the wrath of the stewards," Mackay said.

"It was a flip of a coin. But I think I'm working him out … he's just not interested in putting in unless he has a full field of competition and he loves Wentworth Park.

"His ability is scary."

Good Juan will tackle the first of three Sydney Cup heats on Friday night as a red hot $1.60 favourite eyeing a spot in Friday week's $100,000 to-the-winner final.

And having unlocked what he hopes is the winning formula to the $120,000 purchase, Mackay is confident Good Juan can thrill racegoers yet again this Friday night.

"He's been working like a bull at home this week – we've changed some things up and it seems to be working," he said.

"But you can never be too sure what he'll do. He's too smart for his own good."

Mackay is also represented in Friday night's TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-finals by Aston Lee (race five) and Stinger Noir (race eight).

"Box one gives Stinger Noir a great chance – he can run a big race," Mackay said.

"Aston Lee's struck a hot field but if he speared out like he can he's not without a shot either."

 

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