THE PETLEY REPORT: MONEY ROLLS IN FOR TREKKING

By Jack Petley | Thursday, November 26, 2020

Godolphin's Trekking has drawn wide in the $1 million Winterbottom Stakes in Perth on the weekend, but that hasn't stopped the money rolling in for him and at present he sits at $2.20 warm favourite, even starting from gate 12.

Indian Pacific has firmed slightly in the market after gaining gate 4. I note there is also early money for Elite Street, the mount of Brad Rawiller. He is trained by Daniel Morton who some years back had that crackerjack sprinter in his care, Scenic Blast, a big winner of the Kings Stand Stakes at Ascot. Elite Street has won four from seven and he is rated highly by his astute trainer, so watch the market.

The new trainer, or trainers, have been found for Alligator Blood … Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse … but, before the star hits the Randwick yard, he will be rested for some months following back surgery.

And while on the Bott-Waterhouse yard, they will produce the last start winner Frenzied in the $300,000 Jericho Cup at Warrnambool this Sunday with that race being a test of true stamina over 4600 metres. Also solid in the market is the recent Ararat winner, Wil John. Back for the race is the Patrick Ryan trained Golden Flag, just beaten by NZ bred Ablaze last year.

Leading rider Samantha Collett gave the new synthetic track at Cambridge a big tick after riding at the first set of trials there earlier this week. It was the second time the leading rider had ridden on the track having been there for jump outs earlier this month. Collett said the track is a godsend for trainers in the region and horses would benefit a lot from trialling and racing on the surface year around. "I feel that the track is nice and forgiving," she said noting that the universal consensus from jockeys riding on the day was ‘positive.’ "I think everyone is pretty happy," she said.

Aidan O'Brien has put together a powerful string to attack the International races at Sha Tin next month headed by that grand mare Magical and Mogul and with ace rider Ryan Moore booked for most of the team. O'Brien said that Magical will tackle the Hong Kong Cup along with stablemate Peaceful and there is every chance that this may be the globetrotting Magical’s last run. In her last start Magical finished second to Tarnawa in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

O’Brien said that Order of Australia and Lope Y Fernandez were likely runners for the stable in the Hong Kong Mile while Mogul will tackle a strong field in the HK Vase headed by the high-class local entry Exultant.
Moore will ride Magical, Mogul and Lope V Fernandez and O’Brien has booked Pierre -Charles Boudot for Order of Australia.

Meantime, at Happy Valley last night, Caspar Fownes reached his 500th winner at the track when Explosive Witness gained a fine win, his third on end. "I love this track," said Fownes, who first kicked off training in Hong Kong back in the 2003-04 season.

Altogether Fownes has won some 916 races during that period. Explosive Witness, said the trainer, is a "special horse". He won at his first start in Australia before being purchased for the stable but he did not win again until three years later mainly because of being plagued by injuries. "His owners have been patient and now he is paying his way," said Fownes. "He is one brave horse."

Joao Moreira and Zac Purton were on fire at happy Valley both gaining three winners. One winner for Purton was Total Power for David Hall. That winner, by Dundeel, won twice in Australia and also gained a placing behind Wild Planet in the Inglis three-year-old Guineas prior to his Hong Kong career.

On a sad note, Jim Marconi, the man who guided Rancho Ruler to many a major win, has passed away at the age of 87.