The Vic Husslers had three runners racing within 24 hours over three different states last weekend. Another 1st across The Racing League. And whilst every VIC Hussler wanted three more firsts, it wasn’t to be, but in Season 3, if the horse you OWN doesn’t win it’s vital your team keeps earning points to push you further up the Monthly and Yearly Ladder with the aim to WIN BIG CASH, and that’s exactly what the VIC Husslers did last weekend.
Team Captain proved he’s on track for the Adelaide Cup with his best effort in 12 months at Caulfield.
Bellinger was courageous and only a length away from pulling off a northern raid at Royal Randwick.
While The Big Freeze was in need of the run but still disappointing at Oakbank last Friday at the twilight meeting.
But let’s get to the good news..
Team Captain – Caulfield 10th Feb 2024 – Image Courtesy of Racing Photos
TEAM CAPTAIN ON TARGET
Team Captain has righted the ship (pardon the pun) and is steaming ahead to his long-term mission which has always been the Adelaide Cup over his preferred 3200m on March 11 at Morphettville.
While we all expected him to be much closer in Race 2 at Caulfield on Saturday, he missed the kick and was taken back by apprentice Jaylah Kennedy.
“He ran super, and even if I would have jumped I don’t think he could muster the speed needed because they went really hard from the start with a fast pace.
I settled a lot further back than we wanted but he was in a great rhythm, and we peeled out at the 1,000m with plenty of horse underneath me.
He came into the race nicely and for a horse that is going to the Adelaide Cup you would be wrapped with that run, he was super.” jockey Jaylah Kennedy said.
Team Captain & Holly Rose pre-race at Caulfield. Image courtesy of Heather Hogan (Thank you Heather)
The VIC Husslers as viewed by Team Captain
CUMANI WITH A SMILE
Matt Cumani wasn’t at Caulfield he was looking for the next superstar at the Inglis Classic Sale in Sydney but was more than impressed with what he saw from Team Captain.
“I thought it was an excellent run.
I thought Jaylah rode him well, she got going early and I really like the way he was so solid to the line.
If you look at this run I think it’s the perfect run going into a 3200m race, that’s the idea, he looks like he is set to stay all day.
His recovery is good, his heart rate after the race was nice and low as always.” trainer Matt Cumani said.
LOSING WEIGHT IN THE NEW YEAR
“Look he’s not going as good as when he won the Macca’s Run a couple of years ago but he is getting down in the handicaps now which is a good thing.
The question is, has he just become a little bit more dour? The Adelaide Cup is still a very good option for him, and I’m keen to go there, and off that performance today (last Saturday), he deserves his chance to go there.
The history of the Adelaide Cup says the bottom weight should be about 53kgs which we should get and means we will have to think a bit about jockeys because not many can ride at those light weights and I thought Jaylah now knows the horse and did a pretty good job”
Team Captain will now head straight to the Adelaide Cup without another run.
What a venue & view – The ownership experience at Caulfield
The VIC Husslers most successful horse; Bellinger
BELLINGER DID THE HUSSLERS PROUD AGAIN!
Who doesn’t want to own a horse like Bellinger?
He’s won 5 races for the Vic Husslers not to mention a massive 9 minor placings.
The high-flying Hayes team targeted Randwick last Saturday and the audacious plan wasn’t far from coming off.
“At the corner I thought he was going to let down and win, he ran well, just a shame we didn’t finish a bit closer.” Jockey Ben Melham said.
“Overall I’m happy, he (Melham) probably had him a little close in the run and for me that probably takes away his turn of foot.” trainer Ben Hayes said who had just witnessed their stable star Mr Brightside win the first Group 1 of the Season in the CF Orr Stakes.
BELLINGER TO REGAIN THAT WINNING FEELING
Maybe there was a touch of a missed opportunity when Ben Hayes addressed Vic Husslers owners in the yard but he hasn’t lost faith in Bellinger.
“He will win soon guys, I promise.
I’ve had this with a lot of horses. They have a lot of bad luck and then win two or three in a row.” trainer Ben Hayes said.
Bellinger has pulled up well and Vic Husslers can only hope that winning sequence starts on Friday, February 23 at Moonee Valley because that’s the next target for Bellinger who did earn 7,100 points/$$$ for his 4th placing while Team Captain picked up 3,900 points/$$$ at Caulfield to move the Husslers above the Rogues and into second position on the TRL Ladder for Month 4.
Bellinger in the stalls at Royal Randwick
Race Replay Team Captain
Race Replay Bellinger
Race Replay The Big Freeze
