SOUTH Australian city class galloper Wild Imagination will compete in outback racing for the first time in her successful career in today’s $20,700 Bendigo Bank-Community Bank Wentworth & District Pooncarie Cup.
Wild Imagination achieved eight wins for the leading SA stable of Richard and Chantelle Jolly, including six city victories at Morphettville and a smart first at Caulfield last year.
The seven-year-old mare only recently joined the Murray Bridge stable of David Page after he bought the seven-year-old in an Inglis Digital Online Sale in late July.
She’s had three starts for the Page stable and, although she has not figured in the placings she has not had a lot of luck either, including a last-start 11th against a strong field in the Balaklava Cup after racing wide throughout.
“She drew poorly and had no luck during the Balaklava Cup, but has pulled up really well after the race,” Page said.
“I was tossing up if I would bring her to Pooncarie, but I bought her to race so I decided to bring her up for the Cup.”
Page who made the five-and-a-half hour trek from Murray Bridge yesterday is unsure if Wild Imagination will handle the dirt track.
“She is unknown on the ground and it will be a culture shock for her, but if she handles the track she will go well as she is a fast beginner who likes to race on the pace,” he said.
Wild Imagination has the topweight in the Cup as her class rating is 77 and the next best in the field is rated 60, so she has a big class edge on her rivals.
She’ll carry 59kg after the 3kg claim for SA apprentice jockey Polly Brewster.
“It is a nice weight for her to carry and I thought she would be given a lot more weight than she was. It is a big drop back in class as she has been competing in tough city class races, so she just needs to handle the long travel and the dirt track,” Page said.
Page is a previous winner of the Pooncarie Cup, as he trained Spy Decoder to a four-length win in 2018.
“I love coming to Pooncarie as it is a great meeting and we had a top time when Spy Decoder won and it would be terrific if we could win the cup again,” he said.
The main danger in the Cup appears to be another Murray Bridge-trained galloper in Jamrock for the Garret Lynch stable.
Jamrock has finished second in the Roxby Downs and Quorn Cups recently, so he has put the writing on the wall to be able to bring up an outback cup victory.
Owner Trevor Sparkes, who is a long-time supporter of racing and well known in Sunraysia, would be keen to win the Pooncarie Cup.
The hopes of a local Cup win rests with My Truth for the Kim Talent stable and Flight Deck for trainer Cindy Brander.
My Truth had his first run for Talent at Bordertown on September 13 when finished second in a photo finish and will be fitter this time, while Flight Deck, who has two recent placings at Gawler, will be having his first run for the Brander stable.
Mildura trainer Raharna McDonald, who recorded a win at Mindarie-Halidon last Sunday with Alaskan Storm, will be hoping to continue her winning form at the meeting with Bonsa Big Boy and Tiny Rebel, who are winning chances in their respective events.
The first of six races is the Maiden Handicap at 1.10pm and Cranbourne trainer Shane Bottomley has a two-pronged attack with Gone Global and Charboogie.
Gone Global is the likely leader in the race and with three placings to date has a top chance to bring up her first win.
There will be plenty of entertainment on offer with free children’s activities as well as cash and prizes for the fashions on the field.
An on-course tote and bookmakers will be operating on the local and metropolitan race meetings and Sky Channel will broadcast all of the action.
There will be on-course catering and drink booths operating and the entertainment will continue following the meeting with a live band playing at the pub to ensure patrons keep enjoying a great day of outback racing.
Selections:
RACE 1: 2 Gone Global, 5 Paulsin, 6 Seminara, 4 Ivan
RACE 2: 1 Prince Ruban, 4 Rodney, 7 Toojay, 6 Smart Alick
RACE 3: 1 The Mariner, 5 Alesha Lily, 6 Three Penny Opera, 4 Winning Aura
RACE 4: 1 Riched, 7 O’Whatapicture, 3 Tiny Rebel, 8 Miss Brondolino
RACE 5: 1 Wild Imagination, 2 Jamrock, 5 Don’t Tell Sheriff, 4 My Truth
RACE 6: 4 Em Bryan, 3 Lord Percy, 5 Rocket Boy, 6 Black Marmalade
