Near Record Run Has Deuce Set For Return

SUPERSTAR sprinter Jungle Deuce makes his return to racing in the heats of the Chief Havoc Cup (527m) at Gunnedah on Sunday and comes off a near track record trial as preparation for his comeback.

The royally bred son of Barcia Bale and Serena Fly High was injured when unplaced in a heat of the Australian Cup at The Meadows in February.

His connections took the opportunity to collect semen from the dog and he proved popular with breeders.

But it was always the intention of trainer Jack Smith to bring him back to racing and the Chief Havoc Cup heats on Sunday see his return.

Miss Ezmae is in the final stages of her racing career, but trainer Jack Smith is confident that she still has one big race win left in her!

Could a victory in The Ladbrokes 715 at The Gardens prove to be a fitting finale? pic.twitter.com/xqUUbcwflP

— Ladbrokes.com.au (@ladbrokescomau) May 31, 2022

“Everything is going to plan with him,” said Jack.

“He's had a trial at Temora and then went to Gunnedah the other day to trial 29.73.

“They don't go much quicker than that. Feral Franky holds the record at 29.62.”

Jungle Deuce has drawn box five for his return.

“I've nominated four dogs for the weekend racing and they've come up with four, five, six and seven,” said Jack. “But, we can't do much about that.”

Jungle Deuce, winner of the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder at Wentworth Park and the Group 1 Gold Bullion at Albion Park, will turn his sights back on Albion Park after the Gunnedah series.

Upcoming sprints ideally suited for Jungle Deuce are the Group 3 Super Sprinters, Group 1 Brisbane Cup and then the Group 3 Origin Sprint or Listed Origin Match Race, the latter pair on the same night.

“It looks like we'll have to buy a house up in Brisbane,” joked Jack. “That will be four weeks in a row if everything goes to plan.”

Jungle Deuce has won 25 of his 42 starts and earned $655,000. He is unbeaten in seven starts at Albion Park.

"It's the fairytale win!"

Jungle Deuce finally scores his Group 1 victory in the Paws Of Thunder Final. pic.twitter.com/3Rg9Y3ae6W

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 22, 2022

Smith runs his staying star Miss Ezmae in a heat of The Ladbrokes 715 at The Gardens on Saturday night, a series that has brought together the best stayers in the land and tossed them into six fabulous heats.

Smith tipped Miss Ezmae to be greatly improved in her heat on Saturday night where she has drawn box four and comes up against group 1 star Mepunga Ruby at what will be her swansong to racing.

“She had a hitout at Gunnedah as well and went just one-tenth slower than Jungle Deuce,” said Jack.

“She needed the trial and was a little underdone for the previous race at The Gardens.”

Miss Ezmae finished fourth to Sound Of Silence on May 26.

“She had a short prep for a stayer going into that race,” said Jack. “We'd been going through the Million Dollar Chase series.”

Miss Ezmae (Barcia Bale-Zegati) has won 15 of her 26 starts and $160,000 and is a multiple track record breaker.