It’s impossible to keep watching the replay of Bellinger at Geelong on Saturday and not keep thinking “If Only”.
If only he didn’t draw barrier 12 to start with.
If only he didn’t have to go back to last from that wide barrier.
If only he could have settled second last, one off the fence instead of last and stuck on the fence.
If only it wasn’t a leader bias track at Geelong, virtually making it impossible to come from the back of the field and win.
If only he could have found some clean air in the straight instead of running into the back of other runners.
In the end, Bellinger and the Vic Husslers had to settle for 5th instead of 1st, and 3,000 points in the league ladder, which moved them up to 2nd in month 3. Another win for Belli and a significant points haul doesn’t seem that far away on the back of Saturday’s effort.
LUKE CURRIE DID NOTHING WRONG
None of the above was the fault of jockey Luke Currie, he was simply a victim of circumstances.
“He ran fantastic; he wasn’t that well away and was slow early, so we went back and had to ride for luck.
“If we could have swapped positions with the horse next to us, we would have got some clean air, and I reckon he wins.
“Just as it was, he got a bit of room and went zip, but had too many horses in front of him and ran into a wall of horses just short of the line.
“He couldn’t have run any better” jockey Luke Currie said.
“Another Win is just around the corner ” Trainer JD Hayes post-race
ANOTHER WIN SOON
Trainer JD Hayes had nothing but praise for Bellinger and declared on the back of that run it’s only a matter of time before he delivers win number 6 for the Husslers.
“How unlucky can you be, he was enormous. Another win is just around the corner for this bloke who always gives his best” JD said post-race.
NEXT STEPS
“He has pulled up well, but we are finding it hard to find a suitable race for him. The earliest race we can find for him is at the Valley on January 27; it’s a benchmark 78 over 1200m.
I’ve got no doubt he’ll hold his form and run another bottler of a race” trainer JD Hayes said.
We can’t wait for January 27, and keep those fingers crossed for a good barrier, some long overdue luck, and perhaps we won’t be saying ‘If Only’..
Go you good thing!