Plenty of fight in Fantastic Jaw

PLENTY OF FIGHT IN FANTASTIC JAW                                      15 May 2010  

Fantastic Jaw and Vlad Duric, picture Singapore Turf Club.

 Trainer Stephen Gray and jockey Vlad Duric were right on the ball on Friday night scoring an early double.

After winning the opening race with Surprise Surprise, they followed up in the third event when debutant Fantastic Jaw took out the $65,000 Restricted Maiden over 1200m.

Jumping straight to the front, Fantastic Jaw led throughout in scoring by two-and-a-half lengths over Dynasty Knight (Ronnie Stewart) with Rise The Limit (John Powell) three lengths away third.

Fantastic Jaw gives jockey Vlad Duric an early double on Friday night.

Fantastic Jaw, is aptly named as he is lucky to be alive. Shortly after being purchased as at the two-year-old Ready To Run Sales in New Zealand he was kicked by another horse and suffered a broken jaw.

“It was touch and go there for a while,” said Gray. “He was taken to Massey University in Palmerston North and underwent some unique surgery.

“He was boxed for three months and still carries a cocked jaw from the accident, but he hasn’t done a thing wrong since he’s been here.

“We had him well prepared and he trialled well, so we were confident of him running well.”

Gray got a special kick out of Fantastic Jaw’s victory as the gelding is owned by the Country Rose Stable who have been clients of the Gray family for 20 years.

“They have been clients of dads (Kevin) for 20 years and Bob Tan who manages the syndicate was the one who picked out this bloke,” said Gray.

Duric was taken with the performance of Fantastic Jaw and believes the gelding has the scope to develop into a handy performer although he still is a bit reluctant around other horses.

“He’s a bit timid with other horses around him especially if something plays up in front of him,” said Duric.

“He’s fine with everything else but is still a bit green in his action.

“He did a good job tonight and will only continue to get better. I think he has the ability to make it as a racehorse.”

Fantastic Jaw is a three-year-old by Fantastic Light from the Centaine mare Salaam and was purchased for NZ$50,000.

Friday night’s victory earned connections around $35,000 in prizemoney.

The Gray-Duric show continued in the following race when the pair combined with Kipadi to take out the $35,000 Class 5 Stakes over 1900m on the Polytrack.

Although getting tired in the straight, Kipadi held on to score a three-quarter length victory over Excel King (Thavi Raja Barnabas) with Harrison (James McDonald) a neck away third.

Fantastic Jaw was sold to Stephen Gray at the 2008 Ready to Run sales out of the Kilgravin Lodge draft. He was purchased by a syndicate of Australian and New Zealand clients at the Yearling sales to be pinhooked at the Ready to Run sales.

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