THE PETLEY REPORT: TREKKING IS THE ONLY INTERSTATE RUNNER IN THE WINTERBOTTOM

By Jack Petley | Tuesday, November 24, 2020

It has been a great spring for James Cummings and Godolpin in Australia and that runs looks set to continue with top galloper Trekking in Perth for the $1 million Winterbottom Stakes and with the ace William Pike taking the mount. The market is out for the big race and Trekking sits at a warm favourite at $2.30 and is very, very firm at that. Pike rode Trekking in a trial earlier in the week and the Sydney galloper won his heat ever so well. “Felt good," Pike told the media. Trekking is the only runner in the race from Interstate.

The Winterbottom has attracted a full field. Big owner Bob Peters has two in the field, Celebrity Queen (Chris Parnham) and Stageman and they are at $9 along with Indian Pacific, who ran third behind the pair in the Colonel Reeves and who has won six of his nine races … so is well above average.

Meantime the Bob Peters owned NZ bred Inspiration Girl, by Reliable Man, will now head to the Kingston Town. Pike said after the win on the weekend that the mare had continued to strengthen. Peters is also hopeful of gaining a run in the Kingston Town with the promising three-year-old, Western Empire, by Iffraaj. The colt ran fourth in the WA Guineas after not much luck in the running.

Peters is not a big buyer of racehorses tending to breed his own but he has shopped well at Karaka taking Inspiration Girl out of the Jamieson Park draft at Karaka for $190,000 and he is also the owner of the full brother to Verry Elleegant, by Zed, who he purchased from Grangewilliam for $140,000. “I liked the look of him at the sales,” said Peters. “He had a knock on his leg and I think a few may have been worried by that. I just thought he was well worth the try."

Great news for British racing. Boris Johnson has just announced that limited crowds can be welcomed back in UK tracks from next Wednesday and betting shops are being told they can re-open too.

This latest move by the UK Government comes hot on the heels of a 40-million pound package for the industry announced last week. The opening of betting shops is widely welcome but, of course, it comes with protocols to be in place, including a limit of 3 customers in the shop at once and chairs removed. The month long virus lockdown has cost shops plenty … an estimated 12.5million pounds.

That very promising three-year-old, Hot the Shot, by Dundeel, has evidently been sold to Hong Kong interests.

That high-class mare Almond Eye and the brilliant Contrail head the entries for the Japan Cup and others include Glory Vase., Daring Tact and Loves Only You with no overseas entries

I note that NZ Bloodstock have released their catalogues for the 95th National Yearling Sale which will kick off at Karaka on January 24, one day after the running of the $1m Karaka Million. A selected 579 lots will go through the ring in Book 1 on January 24, 25 and 26 followed by 339 yearlings in Book 2 on January 27 and 28.

The Book 1 catalogue includes the progeny of several Gr1 winning mares including Planet Rock, Prized Lady, Rena's Lady, Rock Diva, Chenille, Fanatic and I Do.
Notably, while making up only 6.9 per cent of the racing population in Australia … 31 NZ sourced racehorses won 36 group races throughout the season.

Ken Kelso has indicated that his highly promising sprinter Levante, who resumed with a brilliant win at Pukekohe last weekend, will head towards the Gr1 Railway Handicap at Ellerslie. Sam Collett was on the mare for that big win and Collett gained the ride with her ability to ride light. Last campaign the mare was ridden well by Ryan Elliot in all the five runs, including the 2nd in the Wellington Guineas. Kelso explained the riding change: "Unfortunately for Ryan 53gs is a big of a stretch for him and so Sam had the mount as she will get into major races with a light weight." Kelso added that the mare had come though her fine win in grand style."