After a quiet and frustrating run of seconds in October and November, December proved to be a great month for the team with 4 winners from 3 individual runners. Hongbao has led the way with two impressive wins for Adelaide trainer David Jolly. The gelding is in a very good place at the moment and David is confident the horse can keep producing by keeping him fresh at his beach property at Goolwa. We will aim to step him up in class next start and we aren’t opposed to running him interstate in the right race.
Keefneedsafeed was impressive winning his maiden at Wangaratta a few weeks ago and was desperately unlucky not to salute again at Benalla yesterday. We really like this guy and while he has taken a while to mature, the big boy looks like he will get 1600m – 2000m easily. The gelding is earning a cult following after his naming as KEEFY. He will head to The Valley to take on the 3YO’s in a 1600m BM70 for $150k in prizemoney in a couple of weeks.
Beau Mertens returns to the mounting yard on Keefneedsafeed after winning the Wangaratta Cup Day, Sat 4th March 2023 3YO Mdn Plte at Wangaratta Racecourse on December 22, 2022 in Wangaratta, Australia. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)
Finally, Gypsy Tricks won his maiden at Yarra Valley on 23 December and showed an enormous amount of speed. While he fell in by a short margin, the horse did a lot of work from the gates to get across, he was also pestered by a 100/1 shot for a long way. In the straight he had a short kick and just held the backmarkers at bay for the win. This horse is definitely city class level, he just needs to ensure he doesn’t overdo it early in races and we will be having a lot of fun with him. He has picked up a cold unfortunately and will have a short spell to recover and we will bring him straight back for his next prep.
Gypsy Tricks (NZ) ridden by Ben Melham wins the United Petroleum Maiden Plate at Yarra Valley Racecourse on December 23, 2022 in Yarra Glen, Australia. (Ross Holburt/Racing Photos)
