Wellington preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, March 30, 2025
Goulburn trainer Pat Murphy with good each-way chances in the Cup and Wellington Boot while he is quietly confident his third runner will be hard to beat.
A gutsy second on his home track last weekend convinced trainer Pat Murphy that Victory Roll is back to his best and ready to regain winning form.
The gelding had just found metropolitan racing a little too tough but some minor changes at home and a drop in grade saw him finish a neck second to stablemate The Right Rein at Goulburn when giving away 6.5kg.
Having come through the run with flying colours, Murphy is happy to back up Victory Roll in the Grand Hotel and Bottle Shop Wellington Cup (1700m).
“He didn’t have much luck at Canterbury then he was a bit disappointing at Warwick Farm but we went back to the drawing board and he was able to bounce back to form,” said Murphy.
It's a thriller at Canterbury! 📸
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 7, 2024
Victory Roll gets the nose down right when it counts ðŸ‘@pjfmurphyracingpic.twitter.com/aejfXjxxDe
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“He came again when my other horse, The Right Rein, came up outside him and he only just got beat.
“He drops down to the minimum this week (54kg) and I think he will really appreciate that.”
While the Wellington Cup carries Big Dance eligibility, it’s not the primary reason Murphy has targeted the race.
Back in January, Victory Roll finished a nose second behind Mathrin in the Cowra Cup and Murphy would love to get a Cup win on the gelding’s resume.
“For a horse like him, the Big Dance would be a great ticket to have, don’t get me wrong, but seeing him back to form the other day was more satisfying,” he said.
“The main reasons were are heading this way is because firstly, of how well he has come through his Goulburn run and secondly, he’s back in form and it looks a suitable race. He might be that Country Cups horse.
“He just missed out at Cowra Cup which would have been a great thrill so hopefully he can pick up the Wellington Cup.”
Murphy also has Cool As Popeye in the $200,000 Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club Wellington Boot (1100m) and feels she is more than capable of making her presence felt.
The two-year-old finished a three length sixth behind Timeless Grace on debut at Wagga on Match 13 but Murphy feels she should have figured in the placings if not for a slow start and settling a clear last.
Timeless Grace wins on debut at Wagga! @BlaikeMcDougallpic.twitter.com/NUAA50wxAg
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 13, 2025
“The race at Wagga was over once with the barrier hiccup,” he said.
“She drew gate two and went in as normal but there was a hold up loading the others and she would have been in the gates for 10 minutes.
“She just stood flat footed and was slow away but she closed of really well.
“If she hadn’t missed the start, I think she would have been right among the placings.
“On the back of that, I think this is a good race to have a shot at the stumps.
“She is a very nice filly who I think will be at her best as a three-year-old over 1400m but since day one has shown nice ability and she isn’t without a chance this weekend.”
The third of Murphy’s trio is Isagura who resumes in the Cleanpeak Energy Country Boosted 3YO and Up Maiden Plate (1000m).
The three-year-old has placed in two of her six but returns a stronger filly this preparation.
“I have been just trying to find the best race for her. She is ready to win,” he said.
“She has worked with a couple of horses who go pretty quick and she is right there with them.
“She has been a great horse to train and deserves to win a bag full of races and I’m pretty confident she can start with this.”
ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELCTIONS
BEST BET
Race 5 No. 6: Wilbury
Racing in superb form and a little unlucky not to be unbeaten this preparation.
NEXT BEST
Race 3 No. 5: Jolly Good Fellow
First-up for a new stable. Has handy city form and can break his maiden here.
VALUE BET
Race 8 No. 8: Adventure Seeker
Scored a good maiden win first-up last month. Can run a bold race.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 2, 3, 6
Race 6: 2, 4, 5, 11
Race 7: 2, 4, 5
Race 8: 1, 3, 5, 8
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Hard to go past Aaron Bullock in the Jockey Challenge while Dylan Gibbons can land his first winner back from injury in the Wellington Boot.
INSIDE MAIL – WELLINGTON
Rail Trail raced wide without cover and was quickly passed by Chica Del Mar before kicking approaching the 100m and only going down by a nose when resuming at Scone. Can go one better. Isagura raced well last campaign with two second placings both on soft ground. Closed nicely late when beaten a head by odds-on fav Threefold at Nowra at her last run in November. Navy Steel led by a big margin and eased down to win his recent Scone trial.
Bet: Rail Trail to win
Too Darn Lovely rolled along in front and just felt the pinch late when seventh to Insist when resuming over 900m at Newcastle last week. Went into that without an official trial and will strip fitter. Haiku Star took benefit from his first-up sixth at Mudgee with a handy win from Parmenio over 1000m at Tamworth. Small Town crossed from a wide gate to lead that same Tamworth race before finishing a half-length third. Drawn barrier 2 this time.
Bet: Too Darn Lovely to win
Brigidine Gal came from well back to take out Race 2 at Rosehill under the urgings of @ReganBayliss for @PrideRacing 💥 pic.twitter.com/bLxArTJjVs
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 13, 2024
Jolly Good Fellow makes his debut for new trainer Dean Mirfin but brings some solid Sydney form with him including a length second behind Brigidine Gal in a Rosehill Super Maiden last November. Will have taken improvement from his Rosehill trial on Mar 17. Imarealamerican was doing his best work the last 50m when fourth over 1262m at Taree on Mar 17. Should appreciate the step up in trip. Wolf Club was hampered near the 250m when making his run along the fence when second to Tainui at Coonamble last start
Bet: Jolly Good Fellow to win
Call Me Terry was just behind the placegetters in his first two runs this campaign before a long head second to Ballinderry Sal on a Heavy 10 at Scone on Mar 21. Does have the outside gate to overcome. Peruno closed nicely from well back on a leaders track at Sapphire Coast last start. Won at this meeting last year. Little Bit Flash showed the benefit he took from his first two runs with a nice all-the-way win over 1500m at Muswellbrook last start. Also a winner here.
Bet: Call Me Terry to win
WILBURY holds off the late challengers and takes out the @tabcomau Highway at @WyongRaceClub under Clayton Gallagher.@Patriot_BldStk | @AnthonyMantonpic.twitter.com/5nB4bvPBQN
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 11, 2025
Wilbury is in career best form this campaign with three wins from four starts and was unlucky in the other when a close second at Quirindi when wide all-the-way. Hard to beat. The Great Houdini resumes from a long spell. Won stylishly at Newcastle then was two lengths behind The Extreme Cat in a Rosehill Midway before a ninth at Rosehill. Crop Duster won two of his last three at Newcastle and was fifth to Little Beginnings at Rosehill before a spell. Is a winner this track and distance.
Bet: Wilbury to win
Miracle Spin missed the start and was always well back when resuming in the 1400m Newcastle Stakes. Goes well second-up, step up in trip suits and loves it wet. Don Pedro is on a quick back-up from his fourth behind I Am The Empire over 1800m on the Kensington on Wednesday. Went back-to-back at Warwick Farm before a closing fourth to Wrathful before that. Victory Roll showed he is getting back to his right form with a gutsy second to stablemate The Right Rein under 62.5kg at Goulburn last start. Drops to 54kg here.
Bet: Miracle Spin each-way
Stormland chases down Invincible Phantom and breaks through at Randwick for @cmaherracing! 👠pic.twitter.com/CLc6WPJMke
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 13, 2025
Invincible Phantom was pressured in front and kept fighting when beaten less than a length into fourth by Stormland on debut on the Kensington on a Soft 5. His stablemate Alabama Charm contested the Gimcrack in the spring then resumed with a third to Mednyi at Newcastle and a second to Missile Magnate at Gosford on a Soft 5. Splash Of Steel ran a nice third to Karinska at Canterbury second-up before a third to Fortissimo at Scone. That was on a Heavy 10.
Bet: Invincible Phantom to win
Adventure Seeker returned from a spell and kicked off his second campaign with a smart all-the-way win from Beograd Boy on a Heavy 8 at Goulburn as a short-priced favourite on Feb 11. Hasn’t raced since so he will be fresh for the 1100m. Archaic Force debuted with a nice win from Lily Bobtail at Taree in November before a fourth to Speck at Tamworth after racing wide. Resumes here off a nice fourth in his March 18 Muswellbrook trial. Commandoro was a clear last before closing strongly when fifth over 1000m first-up at the Sapphire Coast.
Bet: Adventure Seeker each-way
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