Reid shares high opinion of Jumal
Steven Reid has been training horses for more than three decades. And he reckons Jumal (Downbytheseaside) is potentially the best of them all.
“I feel a bit sad for Gold Ace for saying that, because he won pretty much every (feature) race, bar the Great Northern Derby. He was a pretty phenomenal young horse. I’ve openly said that I mismanaged him a bit at four. We got a big offer for him and I turned it down and I went to pieces and did some really dumb things. Because of that he was never the horse he should have been. I sort of look at Jumal as a second chance. I’m not letting the big (recent) offer faze me this time and I’m going to do what’s right by the horse. I think this time I’ll give Jumal the chance to be the best horse I’ve ever trained,” Reid said.
The offer Reid is referring to was substantial and recent.
“I’ve said to Malcolm (part owner Malcolm Wrigley) that he can call the shots. He and his children made the decision not to sell him. I’m probably getting to the twilight of my career and it’s a good advertisement to have a horse like this to race. I bought a Downbytheseaside colt at the Yearling Sales and he’s still not filled yet. I think it’s well known that I do like them (Downbytheseaside) and it’s great to have a flagship like Jumal.”
Last night at Addington Jumal opened his three year old season with a very good win over The Lazarus Effect.
After a fast beginning out of the gate, driver Sam Ottley took Jumal to the lead before handing up to The Lazarus Effect.
When Jumal was presented with the passing lane he showed a great turn of foot, getting up to beat The Lazarus Effect by a neck. The winning time for the 1980 metres was 2-22.5 with the last 800 timed in 54.2 and 400 in 26.2.
JUMAL REPLAY
“He was probably short of a run. He had quite a tough two year old campaign. It was good to see him go to the races and have a nice run and use his speed. I used to think Monkey King was pretty fast. This guy’s got something. He’s tough, but I’ve always said he’s got so much speed.”
Jumal had one trial on his home track at Rangiora prior to the race.
“In the trial he got a bit keen and he never did that last year so we were a little bit worried. I think it was a combination of him being a little bit on the fresh side and he’s got a little bit more colty. But Sam said once she got him onto the track last night he was absolutely spot on.”
Jumal has always been a hypo horse.
“But as soon as you get him out there he transforms into a lamb. When he comes back to the winners enclosure for the photo he stands like an old gentleman. I think he’s a very, very intelligent horse and he knows what the go is.”
Jumal will now head north for two feature races at Alexandra Park – the $60,000 Alabar Classic on March 13th then the $200,000 Harness Million a week later.
Jumal will race right handed for the first time, but Reid is confident he’ll handle it well.
“I thought it would be (a problem) because a couple of times I’d worked him the Auckland way round and he wanted to get in a bit. But he also gets in the Addington way. Since I brought him back from his spell I’ve done a lot of work with him the Auckland way and I’m feeling pretty confident about it. He’s actually been steering a touch better the Auckland way. Touch wood it should be okay.”
Reid also uncovered another good three year old when Sunsoutgunsout (Always B Miki) won the Check Out Harnesslink.com Mobile Pace at Addington last night.
From a mid front row draw, driver Blair Orange let the gelding roll around to the front and there he stayed, going down to the line to impressively beating Hawk Touie Louie by four and a quarter lengths.
SUNSOUTGUNSOUT REPLAY
“I feel he’s going to get better and better. And as Blair showed last night, the horse is a very good stayer. Last night he never took the foot off the pedal. He just kept him going the whole time. I think races like the Derby are really going to suit him.”
Sunsoutgunsout was bought by Reid at the 2024 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales in Auckland when offered by Derek Moore.
“I think Derek had a reserve of $40,000 on him and he didn’t make it. He did have a couple of conformational defects. He stands a little bit pigeon toed, and his hocks are a little bit sickled. Long story short I ended up doing a 50/50 deal with Derek.”
Sunsoutgunsout is out of Bettor’s Delight mare Gold Elite which won six and is a full sister to Gold Ace, which Reid trained to win 22 races and over $1.2 million.
“It was through Gold Ace that I got the relationship with Derek.”
For complete race results, click here.
by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink
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