A good spell has landed smart colt Jukebox in better condition for his bid to remain unbeaten in Saturday's Group III Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Jukebox was a comfortable winner of both his two-year-old runs in the summer before feet trouble caused the colt's scratching from the Blue Diamond Stakes and abruptly ended his campaign.
Jukebox's trainer Ciaron Maher said the son of Snitzel spelled well and heads into Saturday's $150,000 race in good order with the stable on top of the horse's feet issues.
Maher notified stewards he would remove the glue-on shoes from Jukebox's front feet and would add standard race tips to the promising galloper for the first time on Saturday.
"He's in good order after a good spell," Maher said. "His feet are in better order this time around than what they were and his action is good.
"He's a bright and happy horse.
"He trialled up here in pretty good time the other day and had a nice sharp gallop (on Tuesday) and he seems pretty right to go."
Maher said the Vain Stakes would be one of two runs before the stable decided whether to keep Jukebox to short courses during the spring or stretch him out over longer trips with the Caulfield Guineas in mind.
"He seems quite sharp and a natural sprinter so he'll run in the Vain and possibly then go on to the Danehill and then we'll work it out after that," Maher said.
"We can either stretch him out or we can go to a Coolmore if he's good enough but there's a few options there.
"He's (by) Snitzel out of a Rory's (Jester) mare so he's quite sharp."
Craig Williams will ride Jukebox in the Vain Stakes while the colt will start from barrier six.
