Bastille’s big Bendigo payday
Luke Currie would have loved to have been at Randwick on Saturday with a few key rides in Group 1 races on the signature day of The Championships, but he didn’t mind hanging around at Bendigo for rides like Bold Bastille.
The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained filly exerted her class as a $1.18 betting favourite in the first feature of the day, the $250,000 VOBIS Gold Rush (1000m).
The daughter of Brazen Beau took her record to four wins from five starts with an effortless all-the-way win in the richest race of the day and Currie was happy to receive a ‘gift’ from regular rider Mark Zahra, who had commitments in Sydney.
“That was a gift from the Hayes boys and the owners and Mark Zahra as well,” Currie said.
“She’s got fairly high cruising speed and she gives you a feel like she’s going to quicken off that, which is what she did.
“There’s not a lot of her but she’s obviously got a big motor and she’ll win better races.”
Bold Bastille denied fledgling Bendigo trainer Toby Lake a fairytale debut with his $15,000 purchase Linkvue, scoring by 2-1/4 lengths, but Lake’s $31 chance finished 3-1/2 lengths clear of third placegetter Toroness ($26).
The Gold Rush win completed an autumn winning hat-trick for Bold Bastille, who won the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield and Listed Festival Stakes (1000m) at Flemington at her previous two starts.
Her only defeat came first-up this preparation in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m), which she tackled off a setback, having brilliantly won the $500,000 Inglis Banner (1000m) on Cox Plate Day at her debut.
Last year’s VOBIS Gold Rush was won by Shesallshenanigans, who went on to win The Showdown, and Lindsay Park racing manager Dom Rhoden said that $1 million event at Caulfield on April 27 was the next target for Bold Bastille.
“I think that just proved that the boys did the right thing, they’ve been very patient with her after that slight hiccup leading into the first-up run, but now we’re reaping the rewards,” Rhoden said.
More Racing News
Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win
Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...
Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention
Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...
Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025
Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...
Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova
Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...
The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick
Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...
Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024
One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...
Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion
Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...
Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize
Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...
Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon
A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...
Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge
Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...