How close was that?
Bellinger, losing no admirers, going down by the narrowest of margins in the tightest finish of the day at Murray Bridge in the Burke Urban Reg Nolan Handicap Benchmark 82 on Saturday, 7th October 2023.
Only a nose separated Bellinger from notching up his 6th win for the Husslers, with Buble Over just prevailing in the middle of the track with Bellinger trying his heart out as always back on the inside closest to the rail.
While Bellinger enjoyed a lovely run in transit and did get the split at the right time, he copped a bump when pushing into the clear and it probably cost him the race according to jockey Todd Pannell.
“Super effort from the horse, he did everything right in the run” Jockey Todd Pannell
“Once that gap appeared he got through it but was just impeded a bit, getting a little bit of a bump and it probably took away some of his momentum, but once we got through it the horse did hit the line strongly.
“He’s really a beautiful horse to ride and certainly deserves a win this campaign and is enjoying his racing” Pannell concluded.
Bellinger has had 3 starts this preparation for two-thirds and a second placing, all those starts have been in Adelaide, but next up he’ll be staying closer to home.
“He seems to have travelled back from Adelaide perfectly fine, he knows the road that well he could actually drive the truck he’s been there that many times.
“We have found a nice race in Victoria for him, it’s on Geelong Cup day a Benchmark 84, 1200m which means he’s right down in the weights and, we will target him at that” Trainer JD Hayes