Jolly Jake
Jolly Jake is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 1984.
| Jolly Jake | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Three Legs |
| Grandsire | Petingo |
| Dam | Honeypot |
| Damsire | Sucaryl |
| Sex | Colt |
| Foaled | 1981 |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Colour | Brown |
| Breeder | Mrs J D Scoular |
| Owner | Ivan Allan |
| Trainer | Alan Jones |
| Record | 16:5-3-2 (in New Zealand); 12:4-2-0 (in USA) |
| Earnings | $165,335 (in New Zealand); $20,300 (in USA) |
| Major wins | |
| New Zealand Derby (1984) | |
| Last updated on February 26, 2008 | |
It took five attempts for the colt to clear maiden company, which he did at Pukekohe four months before his Derby triumph, but he steadily improved, performing consistently throughout. He only finished further back than fifth twice, once in the Waikato Guineas and once over an unsuitable 1200 metres at Te Aroha, and was also successful in the Avondale Guineas prior to winning the Derby.
He won the Derby in 2:27.39, a race record that stood until broken by The Phantom Chance eight years later. This race, easily his greatest career performance, was his final start in New Zealand.
According to the 1984/85 Australasian Racing Year, the colt was sold for $1 million to race in America. Unplaced in five starts at Santa Anita, Hollywood Park and Bay Meadows in late-1985 and early-1986, the colt finished his career on the Southern steeplechasing circuit, where he won four races in seven starts from 1986 to 1988.