By Glenn Davis
For a fleeting moment, Gary "Jack" Duncan thought Dzsenifer had kicked a goal and given the trainer his first win in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap at the Sunshine Coast last Saturday.
But, it was not to be as Dzsenifer was hauled in, finishing a courageous second to the John O’Shea-trained Le Gai Soleil in the 1200 metre feature.
Duncan is still chasing further black-type with Dzsenifer and his focus is now on the Pam O’Neill Stakes at Doomben on Saturday and hopes she can go one better in the $150,000 Group 3 feature over 1600 metres.
“It looked like she was going to win the Glasshouse at one stage,” Duncan said.
“They don’t get past her normally when she hits the front like that so the winner must be pretty good.”
Dzsenifer was named after the German soccer star Dzsenifer Marozsán - being by Scissor Kick - and has won five times and placed on eight other occasions in her 18 start career with prize money earnings just short of $456,000.
Dzsenifer’s value as a brood mare soared after her dominant win on a heavy track in the Listed Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast on May 7.
Doomben is currently a Heavy 9 but Duncan is hopeful conditions improve with a forecast for good weather before race day.
“A soft track would be ideal for her and hopefully the sting will still be out of the track if it fines up,” Duncan said.
“She’s in good nick so I’m hopeful she can put in another good run.”
Duncan also is hopeful of a strong performance from Goldsborough, who is attempting back-to-back wins in the Class 6 Plate over 1200 metres.
“He’s always been a handy horse and he should be competitive again,” Duncan said.
“But, he’d be better on top of the ground.”
Duncan has ruled out next week’s Listed Ramornie Handicap at Grafton with Goldsborough, who has missed a place only once in his 11-start career.
“The Ramornie would be too short for him as he’s probably wanting 1600 metres now,” Duncan said.
“He’ll probably only have one or two more runs before I get him ready for the summer carnival.”
Goldsborough missed last year’s Queensland summer carnival after having to undergo throat surgery.
The son of Headwater was a $40,000 buy at the Magic Millions sales and has shown his class with a win over Tony Gollan’s boom filly Isotope at the Sunshine Coast as a three-year-old.