Do you want the good news or the bad news regarding Bellinger?
Okay, let’s get the bad news out of the way and then we can forget about it.
Bellinger missed the kick in Race 6 at Bendigo on Wednesday and never really got himself into the race.
The good news is that his next target is back at his favourite track and worth a cool $105,000.
NOTHING WENT RIGHT
As trainer Ben Hayes quipped after the race “Unfortunately he missed the start, which just put us on the back foot and he just found 1100 metres a little short for him after blowing the start”
“It was a total forgive run”
Bellinger officially finished 7th, beaten less than four lengths and actually hit the line well.
“Unfortunately it didn’t really go to plan, we just couldn’t keep up, they were too sharp for him early.
“But he is in lovely condition and he was doing his best work late to the line and there was a lot of merit with how he finished off” jockey Laura Lafferty said.
“There was a lot of merit with how he finished off” Jockey Laura Lafferty
PULLED UP WELL
While it was disappointing for the large crew of Vic Husslers who made the two-hour trip from Melbourne to Bendigo they still had a great day celebrating their horse and enjoying Bendigo Cup day as owners.
“I’m pleased to report he has come through the run well. 100 percent, has eaten up well and has lovely clean legs, we can’t fault him” Ben confirmed.
A RICH TARGET FOUND
Bellinger has notched four wins for the Vic Husslers two of them have come at Morphettville in Adelaide and it looks like that’s where his next target will be.
“Just looking at his options going forward, with his rating now it’s quite difficult, but he has qualified to run at Morphettville again on the 25th (November) over 1200m it’s a qualifying race and Bellinger contested some of the series races in the lead-up and it looks like he has enough points to get in.
“It’s worth $105,000 and that’s the race we are going to look at, back to 1200m at his favourite track, we are hopeful of getting a nice result there,” Ben said
GOOD RESULT FOR ADELAIDE-BASED HUSSLERS
While Husslers based in Victoria may find it head-scratching that Bellinger is heading back to Adelaide, it’s a good result for a big contingent of Husslers based in Adelaide.
And while it’s preferable for team horses to race in their home state, TRL is in full agreement with trainer Ben Hayes “that the trainer’s job is to place the horse where the best possibility of winning is and I think we’ve done that”.
Just confirming Bellinger’s next target is at Morphettville on November 25.
Go you good thing! And Go The Husslers – Good luck on Cup Day!