PRIZEMONEY for the 2021 Warrnambool May Racing Carnival will be finalised within weeks.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Warrnambool Racing Club has been in ongoing discussions with Racing Victoria regarding lifting stakes for the iconic three-day carnival.
WRC chief executive Tom O'Connor said he was hopeful some races may get a hike in prizemoney.
"In an ideal world we would love to see our benchmark and maiden races lifted to $50,000 from $35,000," O'Connor said.
"The carnival needs a lift in stakemoney if we are to retain our status as the premier three day racing carnival in Australia.
"We would also love to see our feature flat races namely the Wangoom Handicap and Warrnambool Cup get a lift.
"We've had discussions with RV for nearly a year about the stakemoney for the carnival.
"The virus has taken everyone's focus, which is quite understandable, but we must push forward with our plans and vision for the carnival.
"RV has indicated they will notify us in the near future of what the stakes will be."
The year's Warrnambool May Carnival will be run on May 4, 5 and 6.
MOST PLEASING
UNBEATEN Warrnambool galloper As I Please may be Melbourne-bound after scoring a last-stride victory over Substantial at her home track on Sunday.
As I Please won his maiden at Warrnambool last month. Trainer Symon Wilde said the four-year-old could have his next run at Sandown in a few weeks.
"We'll just take him home and freshen him up with a mid-week Melbourne race in our plans," Wilde said.
"It's wonderful to get a winner on Koroit Cup Day, especially because so many of the owners in As I Please have links to Koroit.
"As I Please is a very big horse.
"He's suited to the big, roomy tracks like Warrnambool. I think Sandown would suit him ideally."
As I Please was a $9000 purchase at the Inglis weanling sale and has now won over $38,000 in stakemoney.
Apprentice jockey Melissa Julius has been on board for both wins and looks the likely rider in the Sandown race.
Meanwhile, Wilde said his promising mare Tralee Rose will have one more Melbourne start before running in the $400,000 Adelaide Cup on March 8.
Tralee Rose has won four of her nine starts, including a seven-length victory in the Bagot Handicap at Flemington on New Year's Day.
SCOTT SHINES
VETERAN Crossley trainer Quinton Scott was seen in the winners' circle on consecutive days last week.
Mister Dynamix won a restricted race at Geelong, while stablemate Bull Dust took out his maiden at Stawell.
Scott predicted a bright future for both gallopers before handing out an accolade to track rider Daniel Small.
"I'm confident Mister Dynamix and Bull Dust will go through their classes," he said.
"They are both quirky horses and I've got to give credit to our staff at home plus Daniel Small.
"He's done a lot of work with both horses. We're in no hurry to find suitable races for them. We'll just give them a few days off before planning their next runs."
Mr Dynamix has won his last two runs. Scott, who trained Rocky Affair to win the 1984 Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase, has four jumpers in work preparing for the upcoming jumps season.
HIGH HOPES
STYLISH Enuff's debut victory in maiden company at Warrnambool on Sunday, was no surprise to his trainer Aaron Purcell.
The three-year-old, with top jockey Damian Lane in the saddle, defeated stablemate Laforia by nearly two lengths in the 1200 metre race.
"We were quietly confident Stylish Enuff would be hard to beat," Purcell said.
"He's a promising type. We haven't rushed him because we knew he's got ability.
"The penny is just starting to drop with him."
BITTERSWEET
APPRENTICE jockey Tatum Bull went home with two winners, including the Koroit Cup winner Dubai Dominion, but also copped an eight-meeting suspension for careless riding at Warrnambool on Sunday.
Bull following her ride on Thunder Peak in a maiden pleaded guilty to the charge in that she allowed her Mount to shift out when not clear of Bitaequi.
Her suspension will start at the conclusion of another careless riding charge she incurred at Geelong on January 7.
The latest suspension starts January 21 and ends midnight January 27.
CLOSE BUT SO FAR
ASK any trainer and they will tell you luck plays a massive part in racing.
Warrnambool trainer Patrick Ryan watched on as his mare Mazy Motion ran second at Bordertown last week.
Mazy Motion's second placing was the 12th minor placing Ryan had had from his last 25 runners.
"They say racing is a character building, and it's pretty right," Ryan said.
"With a bit of luck we may have had a few more winners, but that's racing."
For the record, he's had three winners from those 25 starters.
SIGHTS SET
POWERFUL training combo Ciaron Maher and David Eustace has lodged 18 second acceptances for the $1.5 million Blue Diamond Stakes, to be run at Caulfield on February 20.
The richest two-year-old race in Victoria attracted 269 second acceptances when they closed last week.
Maher and Eustace had six two-year-olds run in last year's classic.
They have already trained eight juvenile winners for this racing season and will undoubtedly be big players in this year's Blue Diamond.
WHO TO FOLLOW
DEFIBRILLATE: Scored an impressive win at Flemington.
He's won his last two outings and going on Saturday's performance more wins are in store for the Patrick Payne-trained galloper.
VASSILATOR: Nice effort to run second in the Manifold Stakes.
He's got a great record at Flemington and can be followed with confidence when he runs there again.
SUE JAENSCH: Always pays to respect her runners when they make the trip to Adelaide from her Naracoorte stables.
Underrated trainer who should receive more accolades for her training ability.