This Weekend in Racing: The Pakenham Cup

Dec 2, 2021

Massive weekend for The Racing League with hundreds of owners heading to two different tracks in two different states. Hundreds of Vic Husslers are converging on Pakenham this Saturday to cheer on their hero Team Captain as second favourite in the $300,000 Cup. While the Qld Rogues army is out in force at Ipswich on Friday afternoon to support The Big Goodbye looking for another win.

 

TEAM CAPTAIN TAKES ANOTHER STEP ON A MELB CUP PATH

 Blue blood trainer Matt Cumani has described Team Captain as a “special horse” in the build-up to the Pakenham Cup on Saturday. Currently a $4.20 second favourite with Sportsbet, Team Captain is now looking for three straight wins since joining the Vic Husslers after claiming the Hamilton Cup and Macca’s Run at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day. Cumani bypassed the Zipping Classic and Sandown Cup, thinking the Pakenham Cup may be a softer target. However, it’s attracted a strong field with Mankayan the one to beat.

Click here for Matt Cumani’s pre-race thoughts on Team Captain.

It’s worth following Cumani in the first at Pakenham with Tycoon Bec, who’s only lost one of her four career starts. She’ll be fitter for her first-up defeat and will have a stack of support with Jamie Kah to ride.

BET: Team Captain – Each Way  (Pakenham Race 7)

BET: Tycoon Bec – Win (Pakenham Race 1)

 

 

HEATHCOTE BELIEVES IN THE BIG GOODBYE

Rob Heathcote continues to be impressed with the toughness and talent of The Big Goodbye and is keen to deliver Qld Rogues owners another win at Ipswich on Friday afternoon. The Big Goodbye was an impressive winner at Eagle Farm two starts back and was desperately unlucky at Doomben last start. With the big wet in South East Queensland, it’s still flippers and snorkels required on a Heavy 10 at Ipswich, but The Big Goodbye is undefeated on a heavy track and has never been unplaced on soft ground so he clearly gets through the ground and owners know he’ll give his best.

Click here for Rob Heathcote’s update:  

BET: The Big Goodbye – Each Way (Ipswich Race 9)

 

GOLLAN HAS PLENTY OF ZOUSTYLE

 Like most Saturdays, Tony Gollan heads to the track full of confidence and with good reason. The Group 3 George Moore (Race 9) is the feature event, with Gollan producing the lightning fast Zoustyle lining up as a $2.40 favourite on Sportsbet. Zoustyle could not have been more impressive winning first-up at the Sunny Coast, he should get through the going and there’s no reason why he can’t win again. Ashgrove (Race 3) has been smashed in early Sportsbet markets and is now into $2.45 after blitzing his rivals last start over three lengths eased down. Tiger Heart (Race 5) has been placed in its two starts this campaign, should be fitter for those efforts and his breeding suggests the soft ground won’t be a problem.

BET: Ashgrove – Win (Doomben Race 3)

BET: Tiger Heart – Win (Doomben Race 5)

BET: Zoustyle – Win (Doomben Race 9)

 

 

MAHER & EUSTACE TO PACK A PACKENHAM PUNCH

The Ciaron Maher/Dave Eustace stable is in a real purple patch of form and there’s no reason their good run won’t continue. Brownie (Race 3) is a four-year-old mare who’s maturing beautifully. She’ll go forward, make her own luck and looks to be on an upward spiral. Marine One (Race 4) won its first two starts this campaign, clearly didn’t measure up to group one opposition last start but with the 3kgs claim of Josh Richards will take a power of beating. Yulong January (Race 8) is a horse that was on TRLs agenda when in the market for tried horses. He is good fresh and has had good support on Sportsbet at $2.80. Court Deep (Race 9) from barrier 4, shouldn’t be getting caught deep. He’s been solid in the Sportsbet market at $9 and with two wins from his last three starts makes great appeal.

BET: Brownie – Win (Pakenham Race 3)

BET: Marine One – Each Way (Pakenham Race 4)

BET: Yulong January – Win (Pakenham Race 8)

BET: Court Deep – Each Way (Pakenham Race 9)

 

PRIDE LOVES BRUTALITY

 Trainer Joe Pride had Brutality as his horse to follow before it’s current campaign started and I’m happy to take the tip. Joe knows when to back a horse up, which indicates the seven day turnaround from his last start eye-catching effort won’t be an issue for Brutality.

BET: Brutality – Each Way (Rosehill Race 9)

 

BONE AND MUSCLE

If the Sportsbet early markets are right, the Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott stable is in for a big day at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Shihonka (Race 1) has won two of her three starts and is a super talented filly taking on the males, she can win again. Snitzonfire (Race 3) has won all three career starts. From barrier 8 he should be able to cross the field and if able to conserve petrol can keep the perfect record intact. For Value (Race 6) has won his last two and is certainly a horse on the way up. He’ll go forward and has a good kick.

BET: Shihonka – Win (Rosehill Race 1)

BET: Snitzonfire – Win (Rosehill Race 3)

BET: For Valour – Each Way (Rosehill Race 6)

 

 

WAUGH – BOWMAN COMBINATION HARD TO BEAT

The Kim Waugh – Hugh Bowman combination is proving hard to beat of late. The last five times the pair have combined they’ve won three. The pair, team up again with Fenech (Race 5) there’s been some specking on Sportsbet $9 and while he comes to town for the first time he’s up to the challenge.

BET: Fenech – Each Way (Rosehill Race 5)

 

This Weekend in Racing: The Pakenham Cup

Dec 2, 2021

Cool Jakey was the King of Warwick Farm  on Wednesday and NSW Tycoons owners would like to package the Metropolitan track and just take it wherever Cool Jakey goes after he kept his undefeated record intact. 

It’s remarkable that ‘Jakey’, trained on track and stabled across the road with Joe Pride, is one of those athletes, albeit of the equine kind, who thrives on his home ground. 

He won on debut at Warwick Farm way back in February of 2023 and the love affair hasn’t ended, Cool Jakey has now won 4 from 4 at ‘The Farm’ and there’s plenty more wins in store for your son of Pierro.

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BOUNCE BACK FACTOR 

As Tycoons were made aware of, there’s a theory in racing that when a horse suffers from cardiac arrhythmia, “you must back it next start” and they win. 

And that was certainly the message after Cool Jakey suffered cardiac arrhythmia the previous start at Randwick, with Joe Pride telling Tycoons in the pre-race late mail, “Don’t worry about what happened last start, the horse is fine and he looks great,” how right Joe was with Cool Jakey leading all the way.

COOL JAKEY THE KING OF WARWICK FARM 050325

Cool Jakey battling to the line with Emmadella

Cool Jakey trainer Joe Pride, Brave Pride, Jockey Adam Hyeronimus and TK

Trainer Joe Pride and son Brave Pride, Jockey Adam Hyeronimus and TRL Rep TK

HIPPO FROM BARRIER TO BOX

Adam Hyeronimus was having his first sit on Cool Jakey and he rode him a treat. We joked before the race “just go to the front and improve your position” and that’s exactly what he did. 

“He jumped well and found a nice rhythm straight away, he had a nice time so I let him slide early into it at the 600metres so we did go a bit early. 

“He felt fantastic throughout the run and was doing it easily, so I did get a bit of a surprise how quickly he stopped. 

“So maybe I did go too early, but in saying that, maybe seven furlongs is his upper limit. On that effort he’ll be winning again” Jockey Adam Hyeronimus said.

JOE DELIGHTED

“That was good guys” trainer Joe Pride said, with a big smile to a large contingent of NSW Tycoons on Cool Jakey returning to scale. 

“Look it was nice to see him win on a track that wasn’t bottomless wet, it opens up a lot more opportunities for him. 

“In saying that if there was a 1400m for him in a fortnight on a Good track I would probably be reluctant to start him. We need to nurse him through it and the next month – six weeks isn’t going to be easy because it’s carnival time. 

Cool Jakey the king of Warwick Farm with NSW Tycoons

Cool Jakey in the winners circle with NSW Tycoons’ owners

WHATS NEXT – PACK YOUR BAGS

The Tycoons have been very patient with Cool Jakey and their patience has been rewarded. He is building a very nice career record which stands at only 13 starts for 5 wins and a minor placing and is now pushing the $200,000 in prize money. 

‘Jakey’ has initially pulled up well, but we all know that he is a delicate soul and has to be treated with kindness and Joe is reluctant to push him too hard too quickly. Which is fair enough. 

“We might even consider travelling him maybe to Melbourne or Brisbane for a wet track, we just need to look after him.

“He’s been a good horse for us, we will look after him and his best opportunities will come in the Winter,” Joe concluded. 

Congratulations to all NSW Tycoons and winning connections.

Go you good thing!

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