Wynberg Janie aiming to go back-to-back at Cambridge

By Jordyn Bublitz 

Craig Sharpe is hoping Wynberg Janie can put her best foot forward once again when she lines up in tonight's $15,000 Cambridge Rewards Final No.2 Handicap Trot (2200m) at Cambridge Raceway.

The six-year-old daughter of Majestic Son was an impressive winner at the Waikato track a fortnight ago, cruising to victory in the hands of Zachary Butcher.

But while her latest performance suggested she has plenty of ability, Sharpe admits there are no guarantees when it comes to the quirky mare.

"You just don't know what she's going to do until the tapes drop, really," Sharpe said.

"At home she's good as gold, trots like a stag."

Wynberg Janie joined Sharpe's small team after previously being prepared by Jason Teaz, arriving in excellent condition.

"She came in from Jason's in perfect order," Sharpe said.

However, getting the mare to reproduce her trackwork on race day has required some tinkering.

"I tried a few things first start and they were the wrong things," he said.

"We just made adjustments before last start, which worked out, obviously."

Those changes paid dividends at Cambridge on October 15, where Wynberg Janie produced an impressive performance to record her third career victory.

After doing some work during the running, the mare proved too strong for her rivals, with Butcher barely needing to ask her for an effort as she powered to the line.

"She cruised it," Sharpe said.

For Sharpe, the victory was particularly rewarding after the work that had gone into getting the mare to do things right.

"It was very satisfying," he said.

"A big thanks has to go to Shane Butcher, the farrier, and Zac after that one drive, with the feedback he gave me."

Sharpe, who works for Lincoln Farms, currently has just Wynberg Janie in work for himself, with another horse spelling.

While her racing manners remain something of a guessing game, he believes the mare has the ability to be competitive when things go her way.

"I think she's good enough in the right races," he said.

Tonight's assignment presents another opportunity for Wynberg Janie to show what she is capable of.

The Cambridge Rewards series was introduced to reward horses that have regularly supported racing at the venue throughout the spring, with four $15,000 finals being staged tonight.

Sharpe is full of praise for the initiative, which he believes gives horses like Wynberg Janie a valuable opportunity to race for worthwhile stakes against suitable opposition.

"It's a good concept by Cambridge," he said.

"Even if she was out of form, she'd still be going around and on the off chance that you might go good on the night, it's great stakes.

"Otherwise you go to Auckland and you're probably outclassed."

Wynberg Janie will again have the services of Zachary Butcher tonight, stepping away from the front mark in an evenly matched field of nine.

"It's an even field, but if she went as good as last start, I think she wouldn't be too far away," Sharpe said.