The Tatura export, who co-trains with David Brideoake, is out to claim a fourth-straight Tatura Cup (1400m) for the stable and is looking to get the job done with two-time winner Turbeau.
If the dual winner can salute in Saturday’s headline act on the eight-race card, Turbeau would be the first to win three-straight Tatura Cups.
Although it may not be as famous as Makybe Diva’s three peat in the Melbourne Cup, another home win for homegrown Jenkins would be extra special.
“Yeah you’re right, there are bigger and better races to win (in terms of prizemoney) for sure, it’s far from the biggest race on the calendar, but that doesn’t make it any less special to me,” Jenkins said.
“It’s a race I’ve targeted the last three years now and I’ve been lucky enough to have won.
“We’re going for four straight as a stable and this will be Turbeau’s third straight if he wins. I’m assuming it would be the first time (three-time winner), I really don’t know, but it will be pretty cool if it could happen.”
However, there is one thing that stands in the way of Turbeau creating history.
Rain.
The weather forecast for the next 48 hours is for Tatura to receive anywhere between 5-30mm of rain — with majority of that expected to fall overnight Friday.
Jenkins revealed that if the track was downgraded due to the wet weather they would scratch the seven-year-old gelding.
“He’s 50-50 at the moment and we’ll make that decision tomorrow,” Jenkins said.
“He’s come back from his spell really well and if he doesn’t run, there might be a good option for him on Ballarat Cup Day.”
If the jets are cooled on Turbeau’s cup chances, there will be another hope for Jenkins to add to his recent Tatura Cup haul.
Jenkins and Brideoake will suit up Soaring Eagle in the time-honoured cup.
Jenkins is bullish on the eight-year-old mare’s chances on Saturday.
“A wet track won’t worry Soaring Eagle, but Turbeau won’t run if it’s too wet,” he said.
“Soaring Eagle (has been) super consistent; she’s really versatile and can be ridden back or lead. I think she looks the hardest to beat to be honest,” Jenkins said.
“She’s going better than that sort of field and she’s capable of something a bit tougher, but selfishly I steered her towards the Tat Cup.
“She is in a real purple patch of form and we targeted this race after she ran incredibly well without any luck last start at Flemington on Oaks Day. If she can take that form to Tat she should be hard to beat.”
Saturday is the biggest day on the Tatura Shepparton Racing Club calendar and according to club manager Jon Dight the day is shaping up to be a memorable one ― especially if Turbeau and co create history.
“To my knowledge it’s never been done before,” Dight said.
“I’m not sure the same stable has won four consecutive or four all up and for a horse to win three straight? No never, three would be a first.”
Dight said almost 1000 tickets had been sold prior to Saturday and he hoped for “2000 trackside”.
“As always there’s children’s activities, there will be a fashion on the field and live music,” he said.
“We’ve got 700 people pre-booked, which is not a bad number, hopefully we can get a few more. The rain forecast would no doubt deter a few people, so hopefully it misses us.
“Tickets will be available at the gate ... and we’re running free buses from Shepparton which can be found on our Facebook page.”
Gates open at 11am and tickets can be bought online or at the gate.
Buses will depart Shepparton’s Pepper Mill Inn at 10am, followed by Nixon St bus bays at 10.10am and 11.30am.
There will be a return bus leaving Tatura racetrack at 5.30pm.
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