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By Ray Hickson

Zac Wadick says Jamberoo is the type of horse you’d like to take into a fight with you.

Apprentice Zac Wadick (Pic: Bradley Photos).

While he’s only been on board the John O’Shea & Tom Charlton galloper at his last two starts he’s learned there’s a certain strength about him and that gives him confidence going into the Blakes Marine Handicap (1800m) at Hawkesbury on Saturday.

The gelding kicked off his campaign with a game on pace second behind Poppin’ Champagne at Warwick Farm a couple of weeks ago and Wadick said it’s a good springboard for him to improve.

“That first up run was very good, I think he’s in pretty good order,’’ Wadick said.

“A mile first-up is not easy for any horse to do but he’s a massive horse and he’s just a galloper.

“He gets out and gets rolling, he’s a very tough animal.

“I have no problems with him second-up over 1800m. He seems the type of horse that will run through anything. He’ll run through a brick wall.”

Jamberoo, $4 with TAB on Thursday, was placed in the Little Dance back in November and while he hasn’t won beyond 1550m that’s of no concern to Wadick.

He said the race at Hawkesbury looks ideal for the five-year-old who likes to get out and do his thing up on the speed.

“The barrier isn’t a worry because he’ll just roll forward. He has 57kg on the day, I like his chances,’’ he said.

“It allows him to have that clean galloping room which seems to me to be the most important thing with him, just keeping him in the rhythm.”

Wadick hopes horses like Jamberoo and Spanish Fox, his ride in the Clarendon Tavern Handicap (1100m), can help kick start his bid for the Sydney Apprentices crown.

He’s been stranded on 19 city winners while peers Molly Bourke (22) and Braith Nock (21) have slipped past so he's aware he needs to get moving.

Spanish Fox contributed three wins to his tally in the spring and the gelding will resume having won his past five starts including his two starts at Hawkesbury.

Based on his two trials Wadick feels the four-year-old may be in need of the run and will have plenty of scope for improvement out of the race.

“He’s been off a while, he raced in November and didn’t come back to the trials until April so he definitely needed his first trial,’’ he said.

“He was sucking in the big ones late, it was the same in his second trial he was feeling it a bit late.

“He’s only over 1100m so it’s not too far for him so if he’s starting to get a bit tired he shouldn’t have too long left in the race.

“When push comes to shove if he still runs a good race and doesn’t win he will improve off it for sure.

“He seems to build in each prep and I know from riding him his last win was better than the first time.”

Countyourblessings is an emergency for the Hawkesbury Crown but if she runs in The Lawn Shed Handicap (1400m) then Wadick expects her to be competitive.

Jamberoo runs second at Warwick Farm on April 16

He does have a win on the mare who resumed with a close up midfield finish behind Need Some Luck at Randwick two weeks ago.

“When I won on her she was a great winner and she beat a horse called Seascape which has gone on and won since then,’’ he said.

“I don’t think she got a lot of room first-up but it was still a good run.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Hawkesbury meeting