CELEBRATIONS are in readiness for the 100th running of the bet365 Mildura Cup and regular competitor and trainer in the district trainer Patrick Payne will be hoping Jimmy The Bear can return to winning form in the feature event at Sandilong Park today.
Payne achieved back-to-back Mildura Cup wins in 2018-19 with Husson Eagle who went on to earn $1.1million in prizemoney and Jimmy The Bear could give the stable another Cup win as he’s the highest rated horse in the race.
“I am happy to win any race, but it would be magnificent if Jimmy The Bear could produce his best and win the Cup,” Payne said.
Jimmy The Bear has a consistent record of seven wins and seven placings from 26 race starts with prizemoney of $758,050.
The five-year-old will return to the Mildura track as he has only had one run here when making his racetrack debut and he created a big impression on that occasion to record a smart win by a 2.25-length margin.
“I have found that taking a young horse on a trip to Mildura early in their career is beneficial to them and it does not do them any harm,” Payne said.
Jimmy The Bear had a top three-year-old season during the winter months in 2022 as he achieved four city class wins at Flemington twice, as well as Moonee Valley, and Caulfield and soon after he tackled the $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill in Sydney when he finished mid-field behind the star galloper, I Wish I Win.
“He earned good prizemoney as a late three-year-old and then the Golden Eagle was a viable option for him at the time and he ran well,” Payne said.
Jimmy The Bear returned from a long spell in April with a first up fourth at Caulfield and then made the trek to SA to finish second in the Group 3 The Cummings Stakes at Morphettville.
He has had two runs since then at Caulfield and Sandown to finish sixth and fifth respectively and Payne was disappointed with those performances and is hoping that the addition of the blinkers head gear will assist him in the Cup today.
“His form has not been as good at his last couple of runs and the trip to Mildura will not hurt him. Hopefully applying the blinkers will switch him on in the Cup,” Payne said.
Jimmy The Bear is the highest rated horse in the feature event, which is why he will have to carry a big impost of 60kgs against his Cup rivals.
“He is a big strong horse and is a good weight carrier so it will not be a problem for him and I am keen to get him back into winning form,” Payne said.
The training partnership of Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young of Cranbourne know what it takes to win a Mildura Cup as they had the quality mare Sierra Sue win the event back in 2021.
The stable will be trying to win the Cup again this year with the talented He’s Our Bonneval who was bred in Great Britain and was imported to Australia to join the Busuttin and Young stable in 2022.
He’s Our Bonneval recorded a first up win in this country at Caulfield in July, 2022 and although he had raced well since the victory he had not won again until recording a fast finishing victory at Flemington on March 30. A repeat performance here today will have him as a leading bet365 Mildura Cup winning hope today.
The Flemington stable of Leon and Troy Corstens has had a top run of success over recent months, and they will be represented by Umgawa in the Cup.
Umgawa finished a gallant third in the Gold Topaz at Swan Hill behind the impressive winner Press Down and he can continue his consistent form today.
The first of eight races on the program is the bet365 Maiden Plate to be run at 1pm and the Busuttin and Young stable can get off to a winning start in the opening event with their imported four-year-old from Ireland in Muktamil.
Muktamil had four starts in his home country before coming to Australia and he has had two starts since arriving here with a third placing at Pakenham and a last start second at Cranbourne so he has the ability to be able to bring up his first career win today.
There will be plenty of action off the racetrack as well with more than $4000 in prizes up for grabs with the Fashions on the Field as well as live music to entertain the patrons throughout the afternoon.
The TAC courtesy buses will provide free travel to and from the course today.
Route 1: Buses will depart from Mildura Central at 11.20am, 11.40am and 12pm stopping along the normal stops along Deakin Avenue to Jackies Corner and then enroute to the racecourse. Return buses will depart at 5pm, 5.20pm and 5.40pm.
Route 2: Bus will depart the Gol Gol Hotel at 10.50am stopping at the Buronga Caravan Park 11am, Mildura Gateway Tavern 11.15am and Irymple Hotel at 11.30am and will then head to the racecourse. The return bus will depart at 5.40pm after the Mildura Racing Club has held another successful Cup day meeting.
DARREN’s SELECTIONS
1: 4 Muktamil, 5 Redevance, 8 Ardsley, 6 Ring The Sheriff
2: 9 Pop Quiz, 4 Lloyd The Leopard, 3 Geeijo, 6 Flying Celica
3: 3 Joon Ho, 2 Crown Riches, 7 The Creed, 11 Seminara
4: 1 Etienne, 3 The Gov, 2 Overextend, 6 Simply Sparklez
5: 11 Lady Simone, 7 Jet Jitsu, 6 Game As Ned, 3 Imapagethree Girl
6: 6 Oak Park Rebel, 5 Grand Sage, 1 Annihilate, 7 Red Rowie
7: 1 Jimmy The Bear, 6 He’s Our Bonneval, 4 Umgawa, 3 My Khalifa
8: 7 Blushing Tycoon, 8 Torranzino, 1 First Mate, 2 New York Hurricane
