This Weekend in Racing: Merry Christmas!

Dec 23, 2021

Ho Ho Ho…Merry Christmas TRL owners. 

Trusting Santa will be generous and your Christmas stocking will overflow with winners long into the New Year.  There could not be a better way to celebrate Boxing Day than cheering home a winner at Royal Randwick or anywhere for that matter.  The NSW Tycoons were due to have Penso a Lei stepping out over the famous mile on Boxing Day, but “Penny” drew barrier 18 in a super hot field and has been scratched.  Joe Pride reports Penso a Lei is “ready to win” and will now head to Gosford on Friday (Dec 31) for a 1900m race which should suit perfectly.  More on that later, now let’s try and find some winners from our TRL trainers. 

 

NO CHRISTMAS HANGOVER FOR JOE PRIDE

Despite the scratching of Penso a Lei NSW Tycoons trainer Joe Pride will have to go easy on the Christmas celebrations with one of his busiest days at Randwick this Boxing Day.  Joe took out the Villiers Stakes with Brutality, but Stockman (Race 7) was  tremendous in the Villiers finishing fourth. The step up to 2000m should suit him brilliantly.  The Pride stable has Snippy Fox entered at Randwick and Doomben. I reckon he’ll be tough to beat wherever he goes. Snippy Fox is undefeated this campaign winning both starts and has been specked early in the Sportsbet market at $5.50 for his Randwick assignment.  

BET: Stockman –  Win (Randwick Race 7)

BET: Snippy Fox – Each Way (Randwick Race 9)

 

GAI IS QUEEN OF THE KIDS

With seven Golden Slippers in the wardrobe and training partner Adrian Bott with one, there’s no doubt Gai Waterhouse has a knack with the two-year-olds.  Command Approved (Race 1) gave a good showing when it led them up in the Wyong Magic Millions qualifier finishing third to the very talented Soaring Ambition.  By the way, before that Soaring Ambition finished second in the Canterbury barrier trial in which your very own Luna Rocks placed third. Trainer Richard Freedman declaring “she’ll be winning plenty of races”. 

BET: Command Approved – Each Way (Syd Race 1)

 

MARK NEWNHAM OUT OF THE SHADOWS

NSW Tycoon’s trainer Mark Newnham has Shadow Crush (Race 8) primed to cause a minor upset here. There’s a stack of pace in this contest and he’s drawn to get a nice run just behind the speed.  At double digit odds on Sportsbet $11 and now fully fit on an 8 day back-up we are sticking solid with Mark. 

BET: Shadow Crush  – Each Way  (Randwick Race 8)

 

MOODY TO BOX ON

While he could be voted the favourite to play Santa on Christmas Day, Peter Moody has the power to pack a punch at Caulfield on Boxing Day.  Victory Bay (Race 1) has only had the one start and was heavily backed at Moonee Valley while getting the cash. Decent Raine will be hard to beat but with a four kilo advantage I’ll take the $4.80 on offer Victory Bay at Sportsbet.  Foxicon (Race 3) is one to watch from the Moody yard. He’s only had one start and was tough late. While it was only a maiden, the first two past the line gapped the others. 

Bet: Victory Bay (Caulfield Race 1)

Bet: Foxicon – Each Way (Caulfield Race 3)

 

 

HAYES WINNING STREAK

There’s no doubt the new training combo of brothers Ben and JD Hayes are making plenty sit up and take notice. They control the fortunes of our last start winner Bellinger for the Vic Husslers who steps out at Sandown on January 5.  On Boxing Day, I like the Lindsay Park trained Excelida (Race 9) in a very wide open contest. She hasn’t been seen since a very good second last start in a strong race and should give a big sight at $6 on Sportsbet. 

 BET: Excelida – Each Way (Melb Race 9) 

 

CIARON MAHER UNLEASES MARABI

To say the Ciaron Maher/Dave Eustace yard holds the key to Race 8 at Caulfield is an understatement.  The speed map say’s the very classy Away Game will set the pace, while Ciaron’s other top liner Marabi will be out the back and storming home. I’ve got to stick with Marabi who not only keeps on winning but by massive margins.  Bonvicini (Race 7) is a consistent mare who’s coming off an unlucky second last start in the Eclipse Stakes at Caulfield and the pros have launched early on Sportsbet. 

BET: Marabi – Win  (Melb Race 8) 

BET: Bonvicini – Each Way (Melb Race 7)

 

TONY GOLLAN DOESN’T LACK STYLE

After an impressive piece of work during the week, Qld Rogues trainer Tony Gollan has no doubt Zoustyle (Race 8) deserves a Magic Millions wildcard invite for the big day.  Zoustyle has won 2 from 2 this prep and while Gollan concedes Sunday is his toughest test, he should continue on his winning way.  Tony has plenty of time for Palladas (Race 5) declaring him “A Winter Carnival horse next year, a nice horse with plenty of ability”. Palladas has already firmed from $7.50 to $6.50 at Sportsbet.

Bet: Self Indulgent – Win (Doomben Race 1)

Bet: Palladas – Each Way (Doomben Race 5)

Bet: Zoustyle – Win (Doomben Race 8)

 

HEATHCOTE FEELING DUSTY 

Qld Rogues trainer Rob Heathcote is the undisputed champion of micro-ownership and he delivered again during the week with Dusty Tycoon saluting for miRunners at the Sunshine Coast.  On Sunday at Doomben, Rob only has a couple of runners, I think his best chance is Chief Artie (Race 3). 

BET: Chief Artie – Each Way (Doomben Race 3)

 

 

MICHAEL COSTA IS A NUMBERS MAN

Qld Rogues trainer Michael Costa is certainly a newcomer to the sport who embraces modern training methods and it’s paying dividends with a killer strike rate.  Our friends at Sportsbet aren’t being over generous with Morethannumberone (Race 4) who’s now been backed into red figures.  He’s only coming off a sixth placing last start but found the line well and should be storming home to win this. 

BET: Morethannumberone – Win (Doomben Race 4)

This Weekend in Racing: Merry Christmas!

Dec 23, 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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