Hammer returns after months on the sideline

Five-time Group 1 harness racing winner Big Jack Hammer (The Pres CA) returns from an extended spell at Shepparton on Saturday night.

The nine-year-old has his first start since August last year when he lines up in the Group 3 TAB Touch Merchant Trotters Free For All.

It is a moment owner Domenic Martello was never quite sure would happen, but now that it is here he is excited about the prospect of having Big Jack Hammer back at the races for Avenel trainer David Aiken.

Martello said Big Jack Hammer had never officially been retired, but at the same time they had remained open minded as to whether he would race again.

He said they wanted to see how he spelled before making a decision one way or the other. Ultimately it was Big Jack Hammer who made the call for them.

“He’d be standing there, watching the other horse go around. He didn’t look happy. He just wanted to get back involved,” Martello said.

“He loves being in a racing stable environment, so we decided to put him back in work and see how he goes.”

Martello said Big Jack Hammer had progressed well.

“He’s sound, working really well and ready to go back to the races.  He just loves it.”

He said Aiken was pleased with the way the son of The Pres was going, but there were no set plans.

Martello said Big Jack Hammer would be taken along steadily.

“He’s been such a great horse for us,” he said. “We want to look after him and he won’t be over raced.”

Big Jack Hammer has had 97 starts for 21 wins, 17 seconds and 10 thirds, and earned $406,000.

He won his first Group 1 in the 2015 Vicbred Platinum Home Grown 3yo Classic at Melton. He then had a purple patch with three consecutive Group 1 victories in 2019 in the VL Dullard Cup at Melton, Aquagait Mile at Menangle and Australian Trotting Grand Prix at Melton. His latest Group 1 success was his second win in the Aquagait Mile in 2020.

Martello said he had been very lucky to have some very good horses.

“We’ve had an amazing ride and hopefully there’s more to come, and he (Big Jack Hammer) has been very special. He’s given me some of my greatest thrills in racing.

“We got him as a yearling. He’s always been a beautiful horse, very good looking. He’s touched a lot of people along the way.”

Big Jack Hammer will be driven by Anthony Butt in the eight-strong field, which also features Majestuoso and the in-form Nephew Of Sonoko, who has won his past three starts.

For complete fields, click here.

by David Brehaut, for HRV