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Django, Jezpark set to call tune

Jezpark in trial. Pic: Hollands Photographics

Underrated pair Django and Jezpark are expected to battle for the lead in today's $500,000 Karrakatta Plate at Ascot and connections are confident they can upstage their more fancied rivals.

One of three unbeaten two-year-olds in the 1200m feature, Django has flown under the radar since scoring two impressive wins at Ascot last month.

The strapping son of Trade Fair has the advantage of barrier one and champion jockey Paul Harvey. But with the spotlight firmly on favoured Cadenza and Fuld's Bet, Django slips into the race as an $8.50 chance.

Trainer Joe Byrne will tell Harvey to take advantage of Django's draw and ride him positively.

"He'll be going forward," Byrne said. "You have to go forward in a Karrakatta Plate."

Byrne abandoned plans to trial Django at Belmont Park last Monday week because the course proper at Bunbury was available for gallops the following day.

"He worked with a mate and had her covered pretty well," Byrne said.

"The thing against him is he's a Trade Fair and isn't suited to two-year-old racing. But the fact he's doing what he's doing now says a lot about the horse."

Despite successive 1100m feature wins in the Supremacy Stakes and Perth Stakes, Jezpark is rated a $7.50 chance.

Trainer Ted Martinovich said Jezpark was still approaching peak fitness when placed behind Cadenza and Django before the two victories.

The Bletchley Park colt, to be ridden by Jarrad Noske, has drawn ideally in gate five.

"He's tough. That's the good thing about him," Martinovich said. "He'll definitely go forward and I don't know many others that will."

Rommel has been the best backed runner in the past 48 hours, firming from $7 to $6.

"All the activity has been for Rommel, including one bet of $3000 each-way at $7," TAB fixed odds betting manager Ben Pomatti said.

·Stewards are still waiting on the ChemCentre for test results on samples taken from Gottabeyou before trainer Grant Williams is called to an inquiry.

"He'll be going forward. … the fact he's doing what he's doing now says a lot about the horse.""Django's trainer *Joe Byrne *