This Weekend in Racing: Cox Plate Weekend

Oct 22, 2021

The Weight for Age championship of Australia will be slugged out at Moonee Valley this Saturday with Zaaki the hot favourite to take the title. Sydney will steal their share of headlines with the inaugural running of the $2million Invitation for fillies and mares at Royal Randwick – phenomenal money. At long last NSW Tycoons owners will be allowed back on track today (Friday) to cheer on their horse The Sherpa in the last at Scone. While Bellinger steps out on Monday for the Vic Husslers looking to build on the success of Team Captain who’s heading towards the Melbourne Cup carnival.

 

CAV SAY’S THE SHERPA CAN CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN

 The Sherpa made history in The Racing League by being the first ever winner to salute the judge. To be honest his last start was below expectations but trainer Brett Cavanough put that down to the rain affected track. The Sherpa is currently a $16 chance at Sportsbet for the last race at Scone, with Cav telling NSW Tycoons owners “he’s got a good barrier, his work was very good so we should get a result” Cavanough said.

BET: The Sherpa – Each Way (Scone Race 8)

 

FREEDMAN’S STILL PRAYING FOR RAIN

 Richard and Michael Freedman have been on their knees praying for some rain with their three runners at Royal Randwick all better with the “sting out of the ground” according to Richard. Queen Of The Ball (Race 1) “Is a very nice filly with plenty of ability, I would consider a great place chance”. Prime Star (Race 5) “Is another who’s best form is on rain affected tracks but he can run a hole”. Forbidden Love (Race 9) “She’s a real stable favourite and is not to be discounted, watch for her late in the $2million Invitation” . When asked for his thoughts on the Cox Plate, Richard said to keep an eye on Captivant at the juicy odds of $18.

BET: Queen Of The Ball – Place (Syd Race 1)

BET: Forbidden Love – Place (Syd Race 9)

BET: Captivant – Each Way (Cox Plate)

 

MARK NEWNHAM CAN WIN THE TATT’S CUP

NSW Tycoon’s trainer Mark Newnham has prepared Skymax (Race 7) to peak in the City Tattersall’s Club Gold Cup at Randwick. Skymax, may have been a little lacklustre last start finishing behind the placegetters, but he’s fit now third-up and can improve. Mark has Marway and Lord Olympus in the final event, both at double digit odds. Lord Olympus was heavily backed when winning last start and can win again.

BET: Skymax  – Each Way  (Sydney Race 7)

BET: Lord Olympus – Each Way (Sydney Race 10)

 

HEATHCOTE IS IN FOR A MASSIVE DAY

 Rob Heathcote trained the mighty sprinter Buffering, but Saturday could be a career highlight for the likeable spearhead of the Queensland Rogues. Rob is down from Brisbane playing top grade in Sydney with Emerald Kingdom (Race 5) and Startantes (Race 9 Beaten last start by a very good horse, Emerald Kingdom has been heavily supported already on Sportsbet and can win. Startantes may be coming to the end of her campaign but with $2million on offer in the Invitation it’s certainly worth a throw at the stumps.

Bet: Emerald Kingdom  – Each Way (Sydney Race 5)

Bet: Rayjen – Each Way (Brisbane Race 6)

BET: Danezel – Each Way (Bris Race 8)

 

BUSUTTIN & YOUNG YARD TO STAR

Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young continued to make their mark with a nice book at Moonee Valley on Saturday. Building a fine reputation as a trainer of two-year-olds the Busuttin yard has Equivocal (Race 1) ready to perform first-up after a pretty impressive trial win at Cranbourne. He’s Exceptional (Race 4) appears to be over the odds at $15 with Sportsbet. He won well first-up, blotted his copy book last start by racing ungenerously but certainly has the ability to atone. Forgot You (Race 7) looks to be a good thing. Yes, he does have to run out 2040 metres but he can reel off some blistering sectionals.

BET: Equivocal – Each Way (Melb Race 1)

BET: He’s Xceptional – Each Way (Melb Race 4)

BET: Forgot You – Win (Melb Race 7)

 

COX PLATE DAY TINGED WITH SADNESS FOR CIARON MAHER

There will no doubt be plenty of mixed emotions for Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustace at Moonee Valley on Saturday. Only last week they were forced to put down last year’s Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet after a trackwork incident. The stable has Gold Trip in this year’s big race, a European raider having his first start in the country but not to be dismissed. I think their best chance is Floating Artist (Race 8) he won three straight, including a brilliant win at Sandown was a touch disappointing last start but prepared to forgive.

BET: Floating Artist  – Each Way (Melb Race 8)

BET: Gold Trip – Each Way (Melb Race 9)

 

This Weekend in Racing: Cox Plate Weekend

Oct 22, 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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