Baby Jaycee bounces back from injury with dominant Meadows win
Baby Jaycee bounced back into the winner's circle at The Meadows on Saturday night after serving up a lead-all-the-way performance.
Trained by Bobby Douglas, the bitch lined up in the 525m free for all contest as the +110 race favourite with online bookmakers.
Jumping from box two, she flew out of the box to carve across to the rail and hit the lead, where she remained for the entire journey.
Baby Jaycee beat Little Tiger (+5500) by 3.30 lengths in 29.80.
Dual Group 1 winner Amron Boy ran on well out wide from second last to finish third and round out the placings.
The Meadows Free For All October 7, 2023 – Baby Jaycee (29.80) T: Bobby Douglas
Baby Jaycee has run the track and trip on 16 occasions, with nine wins and three further minor placings for her efforts.
Her best time is 29.66, clocked on February 8, 2023, when taking out her heat of the Group 1 Australian Cup.
She had not won since July 29, when she saluted by 2.0 lengths in front of Zippy Tesla at the 525m The Meadows trip.
Last time out, on September 28, Baby Jaycee finished third in a seven-dog field, beaten by Professor Snitch at Sandown.
The start prior, on September 11, was a heat of the Million Dollar Chase regional qualifying series at Temora, with Baby Jaycee finishing runner-up six lengths behind the winner, Mackenna.
Baby Jaycee earned a spot into the MDC Temora regional final the following week, but trainer Douglas was forced to scratch his chaser, as he explained.
“You may not know this, but we had a couple of setbacks with her.
“At Temora in the MDC heat, she got cleaned up in the catching pen and was on three legs.
“Three dogs cleaned her up, so we had to scratch her from the final, then she was run down at Sandown last start”, said Douglas.
Trainer Douglas told Australian Racing Greyhound that Baby Jaycee had pulled up very well following the win.
“She lost a bit of fitness, but based on last night's win, I feel she is a little closer to the mark, but I think there is still a bit left in her to come.
Baby Jaycee has become regarded as one of the nation's best female sprinters.
She won the 2023 Group 1 Sapphire Crown at Sandown Park, beating home Magic Muffin by 0.75 lengths in 29.70, with the current ‘Country Cups Queen' Kelsey Bale back in third.
The daughter of Bernardo and Leprechaun Storm has started 52 times for 29 wins and 14 placings, earning $487,013 in prizemoney.
A run in the 2023 Group 1 Melbourne Cup heats is now on the table before a shot at redemption in the Australian Cup.
Douglas said the next stop for Baby Jaycee would be the Group 2 Cranbourne Cup to be run this year at Sandown Park on October 19 and October 26, with Douglas hopeful she may be due for some inside draws in big races.
“How many times has she drawn the eight in group races?
“She drew eight in the Australian Cup and still ran second.
“The Australian Cup is going to be a lot harder this year to get a start in, with the strong crop coming through.
“The biggest thing in her favour is that she is twelve months older and has all that experience this time around.
“She was just a baby last time,” Douglas said.
Greyhound betting apps have quoted Baby Jaycee an +1700 chance in ‘all-in' Melbourne Cup markets for the Group 1 feature.
Douglas is hopeful a better track will be presented this year for the Melbourne Cup heats than the year prior.
“She will line up in the Melbourne Cup heats this year again.
“Last year, she just was not suited to the conditions during the heats, and not one single bitch made it through to the final.
“This year, she is a year older and so much more experienced.
“She is a proper group race contender, and that will hold her in great stead,” said Douglas.