Jim Jarvis has no qualms about the six-hour trip from Coffs Harbour to Wyong on Wednesday.
The veteran trainer is very confident his two horses, Evopex and Guest can handle the step up to provincial class.
Evopex, a northern Meteor gelding, gave Jarvis his first Sydney winner when he took out the Highway Handicap at Randwick on October 6 last year.
On Wednesday the five-year-old lines up from barrier one in the 1600m Class 4 Handicap, with Port Macquarie based jockey Luke Rolls in the saddle.
“He’s a handy little horse and this looks like a good race for him,” Jarvis said.
“He’s run a couple of good races in town and I think it’s a natural progression for him to take on this grade.
“He can run on wet or dry tracks so that’s a bonus.
“It doesn’t matter where they win it’s always a thrill to see your colours first past the post, but it was great to get one up with this bloke in Sydney.”
Evopex was a $165,000 yearling purchase who started his racing career in Victoria.
Jarvis trained for 50 years at Cranbourne before relocating to northern NSW in 2009 and was given the “heads up” about the gelding.
He brought him for $33,000 at an Inglis sale in Melbourne and has reaped the rewards.
Since joining his stable Evopex has had seven starts for three wins and two placings, earning Jarvis around $75,000 in prizemoney.
“I thought he would fit in well up here and be suitable for the Highways and that is how worked out,” he said.
“He’s done really well and hopefully that will continue.
“He finished sixth in the Grafton Country Championship Qualifier first up and wasn’t beaten far when he finished second at Port last start.
“I’m hoping he can sit midfield in the Wyong race and would prefer him with a bit of cover.
“With the shorter Wyong straight, he will have to make his run pretty early.”
Jarvis will also saddle up Guest in the 1600m Maiden, the four-year-old coming off a third at Port Macquarie.
“He’s a work in progress but has shown a fair bit of ability,” he said.
“I think 2000 is his pet distance and we are getting him up there.
“He’s also an ex-Victorian and ran some nice races around these distances down there.
“He flew home to finish third at Port Macquarie last start and drew wide that day.
“He’s drawn 10 on Wednesday so is going to need some luck. If he can jump well and get across, he will give a good account of himself.”
The first of eight races at the club’s Anzac Eve Raceday, gets underway at 12.45pm.
SELECTIONS:
Race 1 – 12.45pm: WWW.TAB.COM.AU CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1000m): 1LASHES, 2 Walk The Runway, 3 Venture Capital, 4 Power Rush.
Race 2 – 1.20pm: POLYTRACK 3YO MAIDEN PLATE (1000m): 1 SO YUMMY, 2 Power Lift, 3 Satirical Knight, 4 Serbelloni.
Race 3 – 1.55pm: GO ELECTRICAL TUGGERAH MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200m): 1 IMPURITY, 2 Extreme Jewel, 3 Right Bower, 4 Haunting Spirit.
Race 4 – 2.35pm: BLITZ HOMES MAIDEN HANDICAP (1600m): 1 ROYAL ANTHEM, 2 Well Decorated, 3 Guest, 4 Costas.
Race 5 – 3.10pm: RUSSELL MAY “SPIDER” MEMORIAL MAIDEN PLATE (1350m): 1 DUBAI HARBOUR, 2 Braidwood Gold, 3 Nobody’s Perfect, 4 Romalette.
Race 6 – 3.45pm: TWIN LAKES AIR AND SOLAR BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1350m): 1 HIGH RUSH, 2 Hostwin Saturn, 3 I Am Awesome, 4 Showminder.
Race 7 – 4.20pm: EVENT CINEMAS TUGGERAH CONDITIONAL PROVINCIAL CUP – CLASS 4 HANDICAP (1600m): 1 EVOPEX, 2 Wild About Her, 3 Potent Force, 4 Tinkermosa.
Race 8 – 4.55pm: CARLTON DRAUGHT BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (2100m): 1 SOLDIER OF LOVE, 2 Diamond Star Halo, 3 Home Made, 4 Butter Toast.
