Where do we start with our old mate Bellinger and how do we explain his bad fortune of late?
What about a good horse out of luck!
Surely, that’s the case for Bellinger who has been desperately unlucky his last two starts and easily could have added another two wins to his tally of 5 already for the Vic Husslers.
And that’s after being grabbed on the post at Morphettville 3 starts back in the Sprint Series Final and beaten by a pimple.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN AT THE VALLEY
To have a day in the Owners Room at Moonee Valley on a Saturday is still a special day. To own a horse that runs so well and finishing third at the Valley is still an enormous thrill.
But we all know it could have been better.
“He showed no early speed, he was really good again. It was just a matter of trying to find somewhere to go.
He came to the outside and quickened well; he could not have finished any better,” jockey Luke Currie said.
Co-trainer Will Hayes also lamented what could have been.
“Look, we just got too far back and had to ride for luck. Unfortunately, luck didn’t come our way again. But for me, it was a great run. He’s a happy horse, and a win is just around the corner” Hayes said.
“He could not have finished any better” Jockey Luke Currie
FANTASTIC RECORD
Bellinger is simply one of those horses everyone would like to own and his record for the VIC Husslers is fantastic.
‘Belli’ was one of the first horses purchased for the Husslers for the bargain price of $90,000 in the middle of 2021.
His record for the Husslers now stands at 26 starts, 5 Wins, 5 Seconds & 4 Thirds and he has amassed $218,575 for his owners.
Now a 6-year-old, his fast-finishing third on Saturday at Moonee Valley may have actually been his best run yet for the Husslers.
I’ll let you debate that among yourselves.
“He’s pulled up fantastic, he’s just been so consistent this prep without getting a win” Trainer Ben Hayes
WHAT’S NEXT
There’s no denying he loves a road trip, but instead of jumping on a float and heading across the border to Adelaide, the Hayes team has hatched a different plan.
“He’s pulled up fantastic, he’s just been so consistent this prep without getting a win.
He has improved this preparation to compete at this level.
We are very happy with him and we are looking at two lovely races in Sydney, now he’s never been to Sydney and he will be on the Sydney leg so it will be a bit of an experiment.
The 10th of February at Randwick there’s a Benchmark 78 1200m or the week later at Randwick there’s a 1200 and 1300 metre option, unfortunately, there’s not much in Melbourne.” Ben Hayes said.
With the huge prize money on offer in Sydney, let’s hope it is an inspired move where Belli’s luck changes and the Husslers do a huge snatch and grab job north of the border, if they do, they will be a great chance of taking out Month 4 and the $10,000 monthly cash prize.
Lindsay Park will keep all owners informed of the plan closer to the date.
Go you good thing!