Jack ready for his comeback at Winton on Thursday

Brittany Graham knows a thing or two about racing on both sides of the Tasman and now that the Kiwi-based Queenslander and Trackside presenter is working in this country she's a regular contributor on all things racing. 

By Brittany Graham 

A most intriguing horse will return to the racetrack in the Night ‘N Day Winton Pace tomorrow at Central Southland Raceway (2.53pm).

Hijack will make his New Zealand debut as favourite for trainer Chelsea Faithful.

And "faithful" is an apt description of the young trainer’s approach to the now six-year-old gelding.

“He has a very long story," says Faithful.

To try and make it short, the son of Courage Under Fire was bought by a stable client as a yearling at the 2021 NZB Christchurch Yearling Sale for a modest sum of $8,000.

He was ‘roach backed’ (upward curve in the spine) and presented as a rig with a vet report at the time saying he had one undescended testicle.

It wasn't the most positive of signs.

Despite this, he showed good promise before having some wind issues which were surgically rectified as an early three-year-old.

Returning later that season, he trialed impressively for Faithful at Winton where he was soon after snapped up by leviathan owner Mick Boots.

His Australian career wasn’t the most fruitful when racing on five occasions in late 2024 and being beaten an average of 60 metres through bad racing manners, and sub-par performance.

After not sighting Hijack for some time, Faithful spoke to selling agent Stu Valentine at the 2025 yearling sales about taking him back on for Boots.

“A couple of weeks later I received an email saying he is booked on a plane and will be back in a week!”

And in typical ‘Jack’ fashion, it hasn’t been smooth sailing in the last 18 months either.

However, when he stepped out at the workouts at Winton last week and won comprehensively, it was more about relief for his trainer.

“Having him at the workouts made me feel sick with nerves, so I am hoping he just gets around in one piece tomorrow”

Despite his lengthy time on the sidelines, he is proving very popular with punters firming from an opening price of $2.05 to an odds-on quote currently.

Hopefully for their sake, as well as his loyal trainer and owner, he can repay them with a positive performance.