Jumal wins again at Alexandra Park - but only just

By Michael Guerin

The richer the stake the more focused the goal.

And in harness racing they rarely come much richer as a three-year-old than $200,000 so while it may not have been an easy watch for Jumal fans in the NZBS Harness Million at Alexandra Park on Friday, winning was all that mattered.

Win he did as the $1.10 chance overcame having to sit parked under unusual circumstances before holding out the late charge of Signman and Allamericanplayer with Sonofamistery denied luck late in fourth.

It wasn’t like the Jumal of last Friday night when he lead and smashed his rivals, the sort of win that will often guarantee a horse the front in a rich race a week later.

That is what most thought would happen and so too did the drivers of Lincoln Wave (1) and Freeze Frame (2), who wanted the lead early to then likely trail Jumal.

But it took Freeze Frame so long to get past Lincoln Wave driver Carter Dalgety had a young horse travelling on tight lines so choose to stay in front, which you get the feeling wasn’t going to be his original plan.

That meant decision time for Samantha Ottley on Jumal - attack for the lead and if you miss maybe cost your horse the race or relax and trust that even sitting parked Jumal would be too good.

Ottley chose option 2 and it proved right as Jumal dug deep when those who had enjoyed easier runs came swooping.

It means in three runs this campaign Jumal has trailed and passing laned to beat The Lazarus Effect, led and bolted in last Friday and then sat parked to win a $200,000 race.

He now has a smorgasbord of Derbys and potentially slot races spread out in front of him and in Steven Reid the right trainer to keep peaking him, taking his foot on and off the throttle over what will be a long season.

Friday night’s win showed Jumal is our best three-year-old but may be not so dominant he will go through 2026 unbeaten, especially now there is the slightest hint that sitting parked he is at least going to be vulnerable.

But if and when he is beaten, it is going to take a very good three-year-old to do it.