Punter Of The Week: One-on-one with UFC fighter Jack Jenkins
Jack Jenkins is this weeks 'Punter Of The Week'.
UFC featherweight Jack Jenkins is in the seat for this edition of 'Punter Of The Week'.
One of the rising stars on the roster, Jenkins has been recovering from an elbow injury he suffered at UFC 293 at Sydney but says it's enabled him to dip his toe back in the water with racing.
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1. How is the elbow and recovery going?
All good. I'm back full time now and it's not impeding me in any way. It was a long build to get it back to where it was, it could have been a lot worse but it's pretty good now.
2. Who or what got you into horse racing?
My Nana was a big horse racing fan and she used to take us down to Moonee Valley on the odd occasion so I got into it pretty young. Then I did some work experience at a farm in Ballarat, saddling horses up and stuff there but I had to step away from it for a bit because it's hard to fight and have any other hobbies outside of that. So I haven't been able to be involved in it at all but the injury opened up some time for me so I've been able to dip my feet back in the water.
3. Do you get to keep up with racing while you're in camp?
I don't punt a lot during camp and I don't get out to the track but I'm watching it quite a bit. Because I'm not doing anything else of a weekend. I'll train in the morning and on Saturday I only trained once a day with a run so I have that five or six hours in the middle of the day when I do sit back and just watch it. Even without punting on it flat out, I just like to sit back and enjoy it. Particularly in the two and three-year-old races as they come through, trying to sit back and identify talent is fun to do.
4. Have you been to a huge meeting like the Melbourne Cup and if so, how does the crowd compare to a packed UFC card like the Perth last year?
They're different but I love them both. I've been to big fights in the U.S in Vegas, I was at International Fight Week there and that was brilliant. But if you ask me on a personal level 'would you rather go to a big UFC card, or go to the Cox Plate', I'm going to go to the Cox Plate every day. But I imagine if you ask a lot of people in the racing industry that question they would probably choose the UFC because it's a bit different for them.
One of the greatest walkouts of all time.ðŸ-¥
Perth showed up last night!ðŸ‘ÂÂÂÂÂÂðŸ‘ÂÂÂÂÂÂðŸ‘ÂÂÂÂÂÂ#UFC284#UFC#MMA
pic.twitter.com/zkzJR5jLm1
- MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) February 12, 2023
5. Own any horses? If so, have they been any good?
I own two currently - just a small piece. I've got a two-year-old colt with Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young that we're aiming at the Sires Produce and then I've got a four-year-old that's just been transferred to Clay Beasley.
6. Most memorable win on the punt?
I had the complete balance of the punters club that I was in with my Dad on Zaaki to win the Champions Stakes in 2022 with Jamie Kah on board. He kicked away at the 300m and it was huge. I ended up having a large afternoon as you could imagine.
ZAAKI wins the 2022 TAB Champions Stakes!
That's back-to-back victories for @ANeashamRacing and Zaaki. An incredible achievement!#StakesDay#MelbCupCarnivalpic.twitter.com/Vc4KcFtUN5
- Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 5, 2022
7. Then surely Zaaki would be one of your favourite horses ever?
He'd be in my top three all time for sure. There's heaps of 'woulda, coulda shouldas' but the year Anamoe and State Of Rest fought it out in the Cox Plate, he (Zaaki) would have absolutely brained them and they wouldn't have caught him.
8. It would have been a sick watch when he got rolled in the Northerly Stakes then?
I had just got to a concert when he was going around in the Northerly Stakes obviously because they're a few hours behind. All of my friends were telling me that he got it but I didn't think he did and then when the photo came up I was devastated. Dom To Shoot got him as well - give me a spell. He just can't bury them at the 300m like he used to be able to.
Dom To Shoot wins the Northerly Stakes at double figure odds, What a finish! ðŸ-¥ pic.twitter.com/8hc99YmSJR
- TAB (@tabcomau) December 9, 2023
9. Sickest beat or a hard luck story?
It actually involves Zaaki so he's my best and my worst. I had a multi going for about a $10k collect and the last leg was Zaaki in the Queen Elizabeth when Think It Over stormed down the outside fence to get him. That was one where you just went 'he just got beat by the jockey there' and there's nothing wrong with that.
10. Any punting no-no's or superstitions?
I'll always back a horse from a big stable after it's come back gelded. If it's like a Godolphin, Ciaron Maher or Waller and they have sent something away that had talent as a two or three-year-old and it's come back gelded, I'll always back it. The last one I had was Muramasa, I made a stack on that horse over the spring. He would have been $21 and I backed him and it was huge.
Muramasa hits the line strongly to pick up his first win since September 2022 🙌@busuttin@daniel_moorpic.twitter.com/oi0zRwd9xb
- Racing.com (@Racing) September 24, 2023
11. Best punting advice you've received?
If you're ever making a multi, make sure the last leg is the favourite so if you get there you can lay off.
12. Worst punting advice?
There's always the dogs later on, and the trots.
13. Favourite track as a punter?
My favourite track as a horse racing fan is Moonee Valley, because you're on top of it and I've got great memories there. I hope they keep that spirit with the redevelopment. But my favourite track to punt on is Flemington, if you back the right horse you win because every horse has it's chance.
14. Least favourite track to bet on?
I hate Rosehill - sell it! Get rid of it I reckon, it doesn't do anything for me, personally.
15. Favourite jockey?
Jamie Kah or maybe one of the younger guys like Tyler Schiller.
16. Jockey you can't catch?
Nash Rawiller. Gets me every time.
17. Favourite trainer, or training partnership?
Nick Ryan.
18. Ever been to a track overseas? And if so, what's the highlight?
I've never been to a track overseas but I've got the bucket list. I've got to do Ascot, I've got to do Hong Kong, Kentucky Derby and I've got to go to Saratoga as well.
19. Winx or Black Caviar?
Black Caviar.
20. The Everest or Melbourne Cup?
Probably The Everest I reckon. I'm a huge Melbourne racing guy but I think that rivalry is kind of over now. As a real racing fan, the Melbourne Cup is more of a spectacle than anything else but if you ask me the Cox Plate versus The Everest, I'll take the Cox Plate every day. But the Melbourne Cup as a race day, I don't necessarily love it compared to some of the events we've got.
21. And to finish off, when will we see you back in the octagon?
I'm back hopefully on April 18 on UFC 300 or a card one fight in front or behind that. I'd like to be somewhere around that mark. It would be huge to get on UFC 300, it's tough because everybody wants to be on the big card but I think I make a good case. I'm still on my first contract so I'm cheap and that's where I'd like to be.
Thanks for the chat Jack and good luck in 2024 mate!
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