Sapphire Coast tips: Theresa Bateup is banking on class to help get Gunnaheadovski first-up from a long lay-off
Trainer Theresa Bateup is optimisic about the chances of Gunnaheadovski who resumes form a long spell but has the class to win.
Horse Racing
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Kembla trainer Theresa Bateup is hoping her Sapphire Coast-bound gelding Gunnaheadovski’s natural ability will counter his more than year-long absence from racing when he resumes in the Hotel Australasia Maiden Handicap (1200m).
The son of Headwater will find the temperature this mission considerably cooler than when he debuted on July 5, 2023 in a hot maiden on the Kensington track taken out by the stakes-placed Pereille whose own last run was a fifth in the Ramornie Handicap.
For the record, Gunnaheadovski finished fourth of the eight participants that day, less than two lengths behind Godolphin’s race winner.
“I always thought he was a really nice horse and he went to town that day as a 200/1 chance. Tyler Schiller rode him and I actually said to Tyler when he got on him, this isn’t a 200/1 shot, I said this horse will run a race,” Bateup said.
The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!
The short-priced Pereille gets the win on the board at start #7! pic.twitter.com/2RJKIrYJ3I
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 5, 2023
“And he was probably a bit stiff not to finish in the first three. He ran into a few dead ends.
“He had a pelvic injury following that, we caught it early and gave him sufficient time off and he’s been in work for a while and gone through all the necessary steps that he’s had to go to get back to the races.
“He is going to need the run obviously being first-up for over a year. He is the sort of horse on ability it would be no shock to see him win but at the same time I am going there knowing his is going to improve off whatever he does.”
Gunnaheadovski is one of four Bateup-trained gallopers to be ridden by her trusted friend and ally, Jess Taylor.
The pair are nothing short of a dynamic duo with a combined win tally of 79.
Their first real opportunity to see it tick over to 80 comes via Tartana when she steps out in the South Coast Timber Eden Cup Benchmark 66 over 1600m and designated feature race on the card.
Tartana, a Kembla winner three starts ago, was a costly disappointment for her many supporters while on a Hunter Valley away trip on July 11 but with excuses.
Tartana pulls away to salute in race 2 at Kembla Grange. @BateupTheresapic.twitter.com/HtJCnpWFgh
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 28, 2024
“She will appreciate a bit of give in the ground but at the same time, appreciate getting back onto a bit better surface than what she found at Muswellbrook last start,” Bateup explained.
“She probably just slipped and slid and lost her footing around the home turn there a little bit and it just took her a little while to balance up.
“She has raced well at the Sapphire Coast before and she is just one of those honest, consistent sorts of mares that is never too far away.”
Bateup has a busy day with 11 of the stable string entered across the program.
Her pick of the bunch is Mulvader in the South Coast Timber Workers Class 1 & Maiden Plate over 1600m.
“It was a super effort last start,” she said.
“I thought he would take a lot of improvement out of that run the other day and it was probably wasn’t the ideal race for him being in a (Benchmark) 66 and him only a Class 1 horse but just given programming, and he had already been a while between runs, it was more to get a hitout under his belt with this race in mind.
“He’s only had one start down there for a win over the same distance and I thought he was probably my best chance of the day.”
SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS
BEST BET
Race 1 No. 8: Christmas Star
Was beaten at $1.30 on debut at Wagga in March but can make amends this time with blinkers on in a moderate maiden.
NEXT BEST
Race 5 No. 1: Avonview
Great grandson of Doncaster winner Skating whose only win so far was at a mile at the provincials. Placed to win.
VALUE BET
Race 3 No. 5: Blazing Beverley
Gives the impression that 1400m suits now, third-up, via a 1000m then 1200m lead-ins.
QUADDIE
Race 4: 4, 5
Race 5: 1, 8
Race 6: 2, 3, 8
Race 7: 2, 4, 8, 13
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Jess Taylor has ridden 79 winners for Theresa Bateup with more in store.
INSIDE MAIL - SAPPHIRE COAST
RACE 1
Christmas Star was $1.60 into $1.30 on debut at Wagga in mid-March and clocked in third, seemingly with no real excuse at face value. She spelled and is back in business in what looks to a far inferior Maiden. No excuses today from that draw with that weight. The stablemate can run second. That’s Simply Spendid who was doing some good things in the short straight in a Queanbeyan trial on July 19. Flashy Icon is by a very underrated sire in Prized Icon and he looked quite good when an unhurried sixth in a deep heat at Queanbeyan.
Bet: Christmas Star to win
RACE 2
Insane Volt has accepted for Albury on Monday but it will be pretty wet down there; so maybe this is the race they choose? Whatever the case, Insane Volt is a talented horse and always has been. Granted he was outclassed in the 2022 Breeders’ Plate but everything he has done since has been rather good. Shelly’s Ace had the off-favour there at Cowra last start but she won with her head on her chest in the end. That’s always a good sign at the start of a new preparation. Trianon likewise was an easy winner last start.
Bet: Inside Volt to win or if scratched quinella 7, 8
After a top Jordan Mallyon ride Insane Volt pulls away for a solid win! pic.twitter.com/PRn0A7GnAj
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 31, 2023
RACE 3
Blazing Beverely is a Nick Olive-trained filly Blazing Beverley is yet to place in her six starts but has run some creditable races nonetheless. She is third-up today, her first-up run was over 1000m and 1280m after that so she has the perfect build-up if she can step-up. You would rightfully be staggered to think that Kickamushu hasn’t won a race yet. That said, she has placed four times, one of them at Canterbury, two of them here at the Sapphire Coast. Ken’ker ran fourth to his very good stablemate Thoughtful first-up.
Bet: Blazing Beverley each-way
RACE 4
Tartana has some good numbers. The daughter of Invader has raced 12 times for two wins and six placings, three of them seconds. She has been here twice for a second and a third and take note that second was over this same trip. This is a good race but she did beat Vomo Island at Kembla three runs back. Crystal Waters, the Paul Murray trained mare, has been running quite well in some decent races without much reward. She gets the track conditions to suit on Sunday. The Carpet Bagger is a multiple city runner-up and one for one at this venue.
Bet: Tartana to win, Crystal Waters to place
RACE 5
Avonview is still owned by his breeder Gerry Harvey. Speaking of breeding, the horse is by Pierro and his third dam is 1993 Doncaster winning filly Skating. Avonview had the first nine of his 10 career runs for Anthony Cummings; most of them rock solid, one of them was a mile win at Gosford. He is so incredibly well-placed in a country Class 1 and Maiden Plate. That said, his draw is an issue and he does have some pretty solid competition in Mulvader who is one for one at this same track and distance. He’s drawn 2 by the way.
Bet: Avonview to win, exacta 1 to beat, box trifecta 1, 8, 10, 11
Avonview gets up as favourite in a photo! 📸@G1TySchil@CummingsRacingpic.twitter.com/JWaGemhz9H
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 14, 2023
RACE 6
Gunnaheadovski is an interesting horse. A $50,000 yearling, he was cricket score odds on debut on July 5 last year on the Kensington track but more or less should have run third for the winner Pereille that day. It’s been a long time since he raced and trainer Theresa Bateup expects him to be better for the run but she (like me) said she wouldn’t be shocked if his ability got him home here. There was a lot to like about the trial of the Paul Murray-trained first starter Kurrajong at Rosehill last month. He has a real future and a real chance here too.
Bet: Gunnaheadovski to win, Kurrajong each-way, exacta 2 to beat 8, quinella 2, 8
RACE 7
Acheson could be here or he could be at Warwick Farm on Wednesday or even Hawkesbury the day after. The fact that he is entered for such races says a lot about him. If he is saved for next week, all roads lead to Sassy Missile who is lightly-raced herself and with an impressive strike-rate. Her only win so far was at this track. Bad draw, hopefully she can slot in up close somehow. Jinsoku has come back in fabulous order. Skaifee is a bit of a track specialist with three wins and two placings from 10 visits.
Bet: Acheson to win or if scratched Sassy Missile to win
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