Tatura Cup winner ready to strike at The Valley
Mornington trainer David Brideoake joked that a statue should be built at Tatura racecourse of his young co-trainer Matt Jenkins.
Since Jenkins, who was raised in Tatura, joined Brideoake, firstly as an assistant trainer and then earlier this year as a co-trainer, the Tatura Cup has become a go-to race for the pair.
Turbeau won back-to-back Tatura Cups in 2021 and 2022 while stablemate Soaring Eagle took out this year’s event on November 25.
Forced to miss a third attempt at the Tatura Cup, Turbeau will be running second-up in the Sharp EIT Solutions Handicap (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
“I had him in at Tatura, but I thought the other one was a better chance,” Brideoake said.
“He was going for three straight but he wasn’t quite ready. Anyway, Soaring Eagle did the job and got the money for us, so they need to build a statue of Matt Jenkins there.”
Brideoake explained Turbeau had gained a lot of improvement from his first-up outing at Morphettville on December 2 when narrowly beaten.
Turbeau lumped 64kg in that contest when just touched out with Brideoake saying everything that could go wrong, went wrong that day.
Brideoake and Jenkins had booked Rhys Mcleod for the ride, but Samuel Payne took to the saddle when McLeod was delayed with transport difficulties.
Then in the small field, Turbeau was held-up for a run at a crucial time.
Brideokae is hoping Luke Currie, who has recently returned from a stint in Hong Kong, won’t have those difficulties on Saturday.
“The trip over to Adelaide did him (Turbeau) well,” Brideoake said.
“He came out of the race well and I think he’s got a shot on Saturday.
“There’s a few claiming around me and maybe I should have claimed as well, but I’ve had a great association with Luke over a number of years and it would be good to get one up for him following his return from Hong Kong.”
More Racing News
The Kosciuszko aim for Elson Boy?
Elson Boy is in a rich vein of form of late, winning his fifth race in a row last start at Scone on their feature Saturday meeting and trainer Dar Lunn is keen to see what heights the gelding can reach in the Spring. Bought for just $6000, Elson Boy took a while...
Barbaric Lad to test his spring hopes in JJ Atkins Stakes
A slightly smaller field along with a middle barrier draw is expected to suit the Anthony and S Freedman-trained Barbaric Lad in his first Group 1 assignment. Sam Freedman has plenty of time for the colt by Brutal who will be having his first attempt at 1600m when he runs in the JJ...
Gelding to bring out best in Earlswood
Maddie Raymond is banking on a gelding operation producing the best from Earlswood. The UK-bred galloper arrived in Australia in late 2021 and immediately made an impact, taking out the Group 3 Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield in February 2022. In eight starts since, Earlswood has not troubled the scorers with a best...
Forgotten King edging to a return
Dual Listed race winner All The King’s Men is a strong chance to return for the upcoming spring and summer carnival, according to trainer Trevor Andrews. The five-year-old won last year’s WA Breeders Stakes (1400m) and Lex Piper Stakes (1600m) at Pinjarra and Ascot respectively and has spent almost 12 months...
Huetor set to target The Q22
The Q22 wasn’t originally on the winter carnival program for Huetor, but the dual group 1 winner has responded so well to a short freshen-up that co-trainer Peter Snowden has had a change of heart. Snowden planned to bypass the Q22 (2200m) this year given Huetor had finished unplaced in the past...
Stradbroke Handicap 2024 mount reward for hard work
Jockey Will Price has been rewarded for his work with the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman stable by picking up the ride aboard Roll On High in the Stradbroke Handicap. Roll On High earned a start in the Group 1 contest over 1400m at Eagle Farm on Saturday after taking out the Group 3 Fred...
Maher filly knocks their Socks off in the Queensland Oaks
Ciaron Maher and Ryan Maloney have combined to orchestrate a major upset in the Queensland Oaks, winning it with one of the rank outsiders of the Group One field. Starting at $101, Socks Nation stalked the speed before hitting the front at the top of the straight then raising another effort to beat off...
Eliyass puts a spring in jockey Tim Clarkâs step
Tim Clark says French import Eliyass has the scope to make his presence felt in the spring after dominating at his Australian debut in the Lord Mayors Cup at Randwick. While many former European horses take a preparation to acclimatise to local conditions, the five-year-old made an immediate impact. Trailing the solid tempo set...
Alysha Collett lifts Mnementh in Bob Charley AO Stakes
Three weeks ago, Mitchell Beer feared the racing career of Mnementh might be over. Instead, the tenacious gelding has delivered the young trainer his first stakes win since his relocation to Kembla Grange last year. Beer had high hopes for the sprinter in the Luskin Star Stakes at Scone last start but the horse...
Virtuous Circle breaks long drought at Flemington races
Trainer Liam Howley says criticism of the time between wins for Virtuous Circle is unjustified after the gelding returned to winning form at Flemington. Virtuous Circle registered his first win in more than 650 days when taking out the RDA Daylesford Lesley Hewitt Trophy (2000m) on Saturday. The four-year-old last tasted success in August...