Any temptation to engage a claiming apprentice for last-start Listed winner Jacquinot Bay at Flemington has been ruled out after a quick look at his record.

The Lindsay Park team has called on top jockey Craig Williams to replace Michael Walker on Jacquinot Bay in Saturday’s Comedy King Handicap (1600m), with the latter to partner stablemate Miss Idyllic in the $2 million Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast.

Jacquinot Bay carried 55.5kg to his latest win and rises to 58.5kg in Saturday’s open handicap.

Warrnambool Cup winner Akzar is topweight with 60.5kg but that will be offset by apprentice Jordan Childs’ 2kg claim.

“He gets a bit of weight in it and he’s never had an apprentice ride him in his whole career which was quite surprising when I was looking back through his form,” Jacquinot Bay’s co-trainer Tom Dabernig said.

“So we decided to stick with a senior jockey.”

Jacquinot Bay was a close on-speed second at Sandown on December 6 and then claimed a Listed win in the Lord Stakes at Sandown on Boxing Day with both races over 1600m.

His Lord Stakes win was his first since he joined the stable of David Hayes and Dabernig having been previously trained by the late Guy Walter who took him to eight wins including last year;s Canberra cup.

That race is among options for the gelding again this year and Dabernig says Jacquinot Bay has continued to please the stable ahead of his 10th start of the campaign.

“He’s going really well,” Dabernig said.

“He’s a nice horse to have in on the weekend, for sure.

“I thought he was pretty strong winning that Listed race last start.

“That was his ninth run for the preparation and he won.

“He’s by Galileo and is an old, seasoned horse and he just tends to be thriving in work and has been really effective at that mile range.”

Article from justhorseracing.com.au