Go Emmy Go lines up beside one of the scariest prospects in the heats in the shape of Selena Zammit’s Sequana, who’s riding a wave of six straight wins, but Jacobsen is revelling in the underdog role.
“Go Emmy Go is obviously outclassed in her heat by Sequana who’d have to be one of the favourites to win the lot, but I really like the box two draw as it gives us the chance to get on the bunny early,” he said.
“She’s such an honest little bitch, there’s not much of her; she’s only 26 kilos and tends to get a little tired towards the end of the 500 but she’s got a big heart.
“She looks capable of leading the race which is going to be key, with her size if she gets bumped into by one of he bigger dogs it can knock the wind out of her sails a bit, but if she’s out there in front I give her a great chance of getting through to the semis.”
He's A Minstrel knows what it’s like to be an underdog overcoming some absolute jets for his Sprint Series crown in March, but Jacobsen is now firmly concentrated on the 500-metre trip.
“He’s A Minstrel has good memories at the place winning the Sprint Series in March, he’s probably a little bit quicker early and a touch stronger than Go Emmy Go and could run a race from box five in his heat,” Jacobsen said.
“There are no Sequanas in his heat, it looks like a much more even spread of talent and if he can jump and lead them round that first turn then the work we’ve been doing with him at the 500 metres and above will hopefully pay off towards the end.
“I thought he’d kick on and turn into a really good dog after winning the 400-metre series and he’s certainly improved, but it’s probably taken until now for him to feel confident over the longer distance.”
Jacobsen said he was more than comfortable with his decision to go to the Auction Series; the prospect of three weeks of top-notch racing proving too attractive.
“He’s A Minstrel’s win earlier in the year definitely swayed me towards the Auction Series, not many were picking him to win the whole thing and he came out and beat the more fancied dogs,” he said.
“With heats, semis and a final anything can happen.
“At the end of the day the hot pots still have to go out there and win three weeks in a row, it only takes one little slip to miss out.
“It’s the same scenario for my two, they’re up against it class wise but they don’t have to win the series for it to be a success; Group 3 status and plenty of prize money, there’s a lot to race for.”
Jacobsen in an annual visitor to the Ipswich Puppy Auction and was looking forward to putting a few of his own up for sale whilst keeping an eye on a few for himself.
“It’s good to see that the Puppy Auction is rolling around again in October, Go Emmy Go and He’s A Minstrel were both buy backs and aren’t I happy to still have them,” he said.
“They’ve paid their way and more and have plenty of racing to go at two-and-a-half years old.
“I’m taking three pups this year by Zipping Venus out of Aston Dee Bee, they’re very well bred and for the right price I’ll probably let them go but wouldn’t be opposed to keeping any of them either.”