Trainer Mick Bell says greybeard Jungle Edge deserves shot at Australia’s richest race, The Everest
Trainer Mick Bell has challenged Sydney officials to offer Jungle Edge a berth in the $15 million The Everest and has claimed after the mudlark’s 19th victory that the race is not ‘just for billionaires’.
SuperRacing
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperRacing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Mick Bell has thrown down the gauntlet to slot holders in The Everest, challenging them to prove the $15 million contest is not “just for billionaires” by offering evergreen sprinter Jungle Edge a place in the race.
Elated after the rising 10-year-old logged his 19th win and fifth Group 3 in the Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m), Bell says the veteran’s incredible wet-track record warrants a berth in the nation’s richest race.
“I’m just in awe of that horse, in absolute awe,” Bell said after his stable star held off Viridine and I Am Someone, landing some hefty bets after being heavily supported into $2.60 favouritism.
“It did look as though he’d go very well today but they’ve still got to do it and he always delivers. I actually think there’ll be hundreds of people buying takeaway tonight because of Jungle Edge.”
Alluding to the often rain-affected tracks in Sydney’s spring, Bell implored the ATC — which no longer holds a slot — to consider Jungle Edge for The Everest.
Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
“I’d still like to have a crack at The Everest,” he said.
“I think the ATC should give us a slot and show that the race isn’t just for billionaires, that it’s for everyone.
“If he runs in it he won’t run last, that’s for sure. And if it was a heavy track at Randwick, who knows what he’d do?
“The last time he ran up there in the Sydney Stakes on the same day, him and Pierata ran two seconds faster than The Everest, so I don’t know what you’ve got to do.
“He has won at Randwick, too. At the moment we’re all lepers anyway. We’re not allowed to go there (Sydney).”
Ridden by Jade Darose, Jungle Edge steadily firmed in markets as rain prompted successive track downgrades to a Heavy 8.
“I was glad that Jade was on it, not another jockey that I won’t mention,” Bell said.
“She’s always had a relationship with him because she’s ridden trackwork on him almost from five years ago. Because she didn’t get a chance to ride him when he was still going through the grades, after that it made it hard to put her on. She took it on the chin, got a bit cross a couple of times when I thought I might’ve been able to put her on and didn’t. It’s just worked out terrific. She’s a very hard worker, Jade, and deserves all the success.”
Darose said: “I’m just so rapt. He’s been such a good horse and to finally ride him, he’s going as good as ever. I’m rapt for Mick and the owners. Everyone has been awesome.”
leo.schlink@news.com.au
MORE RACING
DISGRACED AQUANITA MOB SAFE IN PAYBACK PROBE
BUMPER CUP WEEK PLANNED: CROWD OR NO CROWD
SUNDAY FIX
PRICE IS RIGHT
Will Price has surged to prominence since transferring from SA to Dan O’Sullivan at Ballarat.
The youngster’s rise continued with a runaway win on Kiwi import Lord Bouzeron, notching his first Saturday city win.
“It means a lot. Hopefully some nice rides keep coming my way and hopefully I’ll be able to keep making the most of them,” Price said.
“That’s definitely one box to tick, your first Saturday metro winner so it was a really good feeling going past the line.”
Lord Bouzeron is trained by Francis Finnegan.
RODD CALLS THE SHOT
Michael Rodd hopes Mystery Shot’s ownership group resists lucrative offers from Hong Kong after the gelding extended his unbeaten sequence to four.
Brad Spicer, principal of Spicer Thoroughbreds, is likely to be inundated with more bids after Michael Rodd and Lindsey Smith combined with the talented three-year-old.
“He’s quite an exciting horse and we’d like these horses to stay in Australia but you just have weight up the offers,” Spicer said.
“The agents that contacted us before ended up buying other horses, but I’d say we’ll get a few calls now. If they offer silly money then of course you have to consider it.”
Rodd had the race in his keeping at the turn.
“Let’s hope he stays on our shores,” he said. “The progression from last start to today was quite big. Between his first couple of starts you could see that he’s coming along, but today was a very big jump with that weight, against a nice field.”
MOODY’S PREDICTION
Peter Moody believes Our Campana has the talent to be competitive at higher level after narrow victory in the Neds Handicap (1100m).
“She’s a mare that hopefully we may be able to target some black type races in the spring when the track dry up a bit,” Moody said.
“Early spring before the better ones really get rolling along. She’s now a five-time city winning mare.
“Colin Little did a hell of a job with her and she’s come to our yard in great shape.”
FREEDMAN’S HIGH HOPES
The Anthony Freedman stable has high hopes for Efflorescence after the gelding scrambled to victory in the Neds Handicap (1400m). The $4.40 favourite controlled the tempo under Billy Egan before surviving Wunambal’s driving finish by a short half head. A $510,000 Inglis purchase, Efflorescence is still to fully develop.
“He was an expensive yearling and he’s just a frame at this stage,” Sam Freedman said. “He’s probably another six months away and hopefully he can keep improving.”
Freedman combined with Jamie Mott to win the last with Bedford.
TAB BIG BETS
RACE 1
In a tight finish to the opening race, Efflorescence just held off the fast-finishing Wunambal.
Efflorescence was the $4.40 favourite after hovering between $4.20-$4.60 on raceday.
Wunambal ($4.60-$7) was easy in the raceday market and almost defied the drift.
The Felon ($4-$4.80-$4.60 on raceday) and Narvaez ($5.50-$4.80) were both unplaced.
Confrontational ($11 to $9.50 on raceday) was the third placegetter.
RACE 2
Our Campana managed to overlast Miss Iano by the barest of margins.
In another competitive race, Our Campana drifted as raceday favourite from $3.20 to $4.40.
Miss Iano was backed at a price from $9 to $6.50 on raceday and almost landed the plunge.
All Over Bosanova ($6-$4.40-$5 on raceday) set the pace but failed to finish in the placings.
Third placegetter She’s A Thief had raceday support ($7.50-$5.50-$6).
Propelle ($3.60-$6) was a notable raceday drifter and finished fourth.
RACE 3
Tavidance for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr did not let favourite backers down.
The second emergency was well backed from an opening price of $4.80 on Wednesday.
Tavidance was an official runner yesterday morning and closed $4.20 on raceday.
Runner-up Tatunka almost landed a strong push tightening from $19 to $9 on raceday.
Third placegetter Muswellbrook was also backed at a price on raceday ($18-$11).
Strategic Phil ($8 second elect) missed the placings.
RACE 4
Travimyfriend enjoyed the soft track and managed to land a good plunge.
Travimyfriend opened $11 on Wednesday and $11 was still available at 8am on raceday.
Travimyfriend eventually closed as a $5.50 second elect with only Morrissy a shorter price.
Morrissy ($3.10-$2.80-$3 favourite on raceday) finished fourth.
Battle Torque ($21) and Ballet Master ($7-$9 on raceday) were the minor placegetters.
RACE 5
Mystery Shot secured his fourth win from as many starts in impressive fashion.
Despite being unbeaten, Mystery Shot eased from $3.50 favourite to $4.80 on raceday.
Scorpius ($5.50-$4-$4.60 on raceday) became the eventual favourite but failed to run a place.
Terrace House — also unplaced — was solid in raceday betting around $4.80-$5.50 (closed $5).
Wicklow Town ($9.50) and Paris ($31-$19 on raceday) filled the minor placings.
RACE 6
Lord Bouzeron led his rivals a merry dance and revelled in the rain-affected conditions.
Lord Bouzeron did touch as much as $19 on raceday before eventually closing $14.
Unplaced favourite Grand De Flora was crunched late in betting from $2.80 to $2.50.
Bets of note on Grand De Flora included $4,450 at $2.70 and $4,500 at $2.60.
Second elect Thought Of That ($3.60-$4.40 on raceday) failed to figure in the placings.
Queen Of Tarts ($41) and Tooradin ($9-$6.50-$7) were the minor placegetters.
RACE 7
Mudlark Jungle Edge appreciated the heavy-rated track and won the Sir John Monash Stakes.
Jungle Edge was well supported by TAB punters shortening from $3.50 to $2.60 favourite.
Bets of note on Jungle Edge included $4,000 at $2.70 and $4,000 at $2.60.
Runner-up Viridine eased as raceday morning favourite from $2.40 to $3.10 second elect.
The unplaced Tavisan was backed from $12 to as short as $7 before closing $10.
I Am Someone ($6.50-$8 on raceday) finished third.
RACE 8
Bless Her just did enough to salute over Chassis and stretch her winning streak to four races.
Bless Her was solid in raceday betting around the $5.50-$6 mark (closed $6).
Unplaced favourite Sizzlefly eased as raceday favourite from $4 to $4.40.
That Girl – stablemate of Sizzlefly – was fancied from $8.50 to $5.50 but was also unplaced.
Chassis was supported from $11 to as short as $6.50 before closing $7.50.
Beatrix ($9-$8.50-$10-$9 on raceday) finished third.
RACE 9
In a slogging finish, Bedford did enough to outlast the evergreen Lord Durante.
Bedford was around the $14-15 mark for the majority of raceday and closed $15.
One TAB punter did place a $1,000 bet at $15 on Bedford.
Third placegetter Dogmatic was backed from $7 to $4.40 raceday favourite.
Triple Strip drifted on raceday from $4.40 to $5 and failed to finish in the placings.
A big plunge on He Ekscels ($23 on Friday morning; closed $9.50) did not eventuate.
Runner-up Lord Durante ($41) was the equal outsider of the field with Peso.