Focussed: Crack Victorian reinsman Nathan Jack is eyeing off a Queensland campaign with his exciting 3yo Oh Jonny B Good
Every Queensland harness fan remembers the deeds of Be Good Johnny.
In fact, most involved in harness racing know the name of Be Good Johnny.
A dual Miracle Mile champion who amassed more than a million dollars during a highly decorated career from the stables of John McCarthy.
He was a true modern day great.
Now, there’s another pacer that carries a similar name that could be headed to sunny Queensland for the winter carnival features during the month of July at Albion Park.
His name is Oh Jonny B Good.
A New Zealand bred colt now based in the stables of outstanding couple Amanda Turnbull and Nathan Jack at their Shepparton base.
The Mach Three – Maikona three-year-old created a huge impression when successful first-up at Bendigo on May 12 when he scored by an ever expanding margin and created a new track for 2150m with a mile rate of 1;54.9.
In many ways, his speed that night brought back memories of Be Good Johnny.
Now connections are looking at their feature race options.
Oh Jonny B Good starts again this Saturday night at TABCORP Park, Melton in the Bourne Bathroom and Kitchen Centre Final but where he heads after that is unknown.
But options seem endless.
“We’re still in the mix with the New Zealand Jewels because he currently ranked 16th and if things fall our way, we would definitely head back because we already have Glenferrie Bronte and Just Cala heading over. If we don’t make the cut off, the Queensland Derby looms as a logical target for him.” Jack said.
The Gr.1 $NZ150,000 KPMG Private Enterprise Emerald will be staged at Ashburton on Saturday May 30.
The Queensland winter carnival offers plenty including the Gr.1 $150,000 Queensland Derby on July 18, the Gr.1 $100,000 Nursery Fly on July 4 and the Gr.3 $40,000 Gold Coast Derby on July 11.
“It’s nice to have options and Queensland definitely makes strong appeal, I don’t think we could do both trips but it’s unlikely we’ll make the field for the Jewels in New Zealand so Queensland is looking likely at this stage. He’s got to hold his form because it won’t be easy up there.
When he first arrived we weren’t overly impressed but as it turns out, he’s just a really bad track worker because he was excellent winning first-up and there should be further improvement to come from him.
If New Zealand doesn’t eventuate, we’ll look at the E K Bray Country Clubs Cups series next before heading north to Brisbane. He’s a nice horse in the making and his form in New Zealand backs that up, he’s raced some of their best over there and performed well so we’re prepared to give him his chance.”
Currently, Nathan Jack sits third on the Victorian Drivers Premiership with 146 victories while Amanda Turnbull is ranked fifth on the Victorian Trainers Premiership 53 winners.
With Amanda still driving regularly in her home state of New South Wales for her father Steve, she is ranked second in the driver’s premiership with 89 winners.
