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STAR jockeys and record prices are expected to contribute to a massive betting turnover when the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival kicks off on May 3. Warrnambool Racing Club CEO Tom O’Connor said all the stars were lining up for a big carnival. With prize money for the carnival rising $400,000 to a record $2.64 million and the appearance of top Sydney-based jockeys Hugh Bowman and Chad Schofield to join the ranks of top Victorian hoops including Damien Oliver and Jamie Kah, should see betting revenue go through the roof for Carnival. Last year’s three-day carnival saw a record total of $62.12 million in revenue, a 19% increase from 2019. O’Connor said the combination of top jockeys and big prizes attracts top trainers and good horses, but he will have a watchful eye on the weather. “It’s going really well,” O’Connor said. “There’s a lot of hype about Carnival, with news that Hugh and Chad will be riding, then you put Damien and Jamie in the mix and other top Victorian jockeys – it’s going to be a huge event. I think getting high profile jockeys up to carnival will see big bets as punters love to follow big name jockeys. I would expect that number to increase before carnival starts next Tuesday. We have to deal with the weather, but that’s out of our control. is now worth $200,000 after a $25,000 hike. “The prize money offered is excellent,” O’Connor said. “We’ve come a long way since 2020, when we we had to organize the carnival over two days and that there were no crowds on the course. because of covid. It will be just awesome to see big crowds enjoying all that carnival brings. Early weather forecasts for next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday show temperatures around 20 degrees, with little rain expected. Warrnambool Group 1 winning coach Daniel Bowman is keeping his options open. about his two-year-old filly Bubble Palace after picking up an impressive maiden victory at Ballarat on Sunday. Bubble Palace won the 1100 meter race by more than three lengths. “We’ll see how she recovers after this outing before making any future plans,” Bowman said. “There’s the VOBIS Gold Strike race on the opening day of Warrnambool Carnival next week and a two-year race to Morphettville to consider. Our other option is to send her to the paddock. We’ve always had a good opinion of her. I really don’t want to rush her because she’s a big strong filly and she will be better at three-year-old in this Saturday’s $500,000 Australasian Oaks Group 1 over 2,000 meters at Morphettville. Fortunate Kiss finished fourth in his last start at Caulfield earlier this month. “Fortunate Kiss did well trained since her last start,” he said. “The big question for her is to see if she can run the 2,000 meters, but you never know if you can’t. A few of the other horses in the race may also have doubts about the 2,000 meter race. Of his 10 starts, Fortunate Kiss has won two races and earned more than $168,000 in relationship staking. One for trivia lovers. Winslow training exporter Ciaron Maher has produced hundreds of winners in his career, but one race that has eluded him is the Warrnambool Cup. Maher, who has a burning ambition to coach the cup winner, appears to have his best chance with Grandslam this year. the former Emmanuel College student has had just seven runners in the cup since he started training in 2006. His cup runners were 2008 (Brough Superior), 2012 (Mr O’Ceirin and Black Oak, 2014 (Moudre), 2019 (Sopresso and Azuro) and 2021 (Heart Of Pussiance). His best effort was Heart Of Power, which finished second last year, but all that could change when Grandslam takes place in the cup 2022 on May 5. More than 80 horses will have been put through their paces in the jumping events at Warrnambool on Wednesday ahead of the big May Carnival next week.Local trainer Symon Wilde has 10 horses entered, including Under The Bridge, Vanguard and American In Paris, while veteran jumps trainer Eric Musgrove will have 12 horses competing in the hurdles and steeplechase events Ciaron Maher, who has trained five Grand Annual Steeplechase winners, rides three horses , including Big Blue, Bit Of A Lad and Heberite. ies restricted to 2400 meters starts the day at 9:30 am. Jockey Mitch Aitken will be sidelined for eight matches after pleading guilty to a whipping offense in Werribee on Friday. It was discovered that Aitken had used his whip eight times before the 100-yard mark – three times more than was allowed. His suspension began at midnight August 23 and ends at midnight April 29.
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STAR jockeys and record prices are expected to contribute to a massive betting turnover when the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival kicks off on May 3.
Warrnambool Racing Club CEO Tom O’Connor said all the stars were lining up for a big carnival.
With prize money for the carnival rising $400,000 to a record $2.64 million and the appearance of top Sydney-based jockeys Hugh Bowman and Chad Schofield to join the ranks of top Victorian hoops including Damien Oliver and Jamie Kah, should see betting revenue go through the roof for Carnival. Last year’s three-day carnival saw a record total of $62.12 million in betting revenue, a 19% increase from 2019.
O’Connor said the combination of top jockeys and big prize money attracts top trainers and good horses, but he will be watching the weather closely.
“It’s going really well,” O’Connor said. “There’s a lot of hype about Carnival, with news that Hugh and Chad will be riding, then you put Damien and Jamie in the mix and other top Victorian jockeys – it’s going to be a huge event. I think upping the top jockeys at carnival will see big bets, as punters love to follow big name jockeys.
“Our membership base has grown significantly this year to over 2080 which is the largest regional running club in Victoria and I expect that number to increase before the start of carnival next Tuesday. We need to do against the weather, but that’s out of our control.”
The minimum price for races has risen to $50,000, equivalent to a midweek Tube race, while the Warrnambool Cup has risen from $250,000 to $300,000 and the Wangoom is now worth $200,000 after a hike of $25,000.
“The prize money offered is excellent,” O’Connor said. “We have come a long way since 2020 when we were forced to run the carnival over two days and there were no crowds on the course due to COVID. It will be just awesome to see some great crowds enjoy all that carnival brings.”
Early weather forecasts for next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday indicate temperatures around 20 degrees, with little rain expected.
Daniel Bowman, Group 1 winning trainer at Warrnambool, is keeping his options open for his two-year-old filly Bubble Palace after picking up an impressive maiden victory at Ballarat on Sunday.
Bubble Palace won the 1100 meter race by more than three lengths.
“We’ll see how she wraps up after this release before we do any future plans,” Bowman said. “There’s the VOBIS Gold Strike race on the opening day of Warrnambool Carnival next week and a listed two-year race in Morphettville to consider. Our other option is to send it to the paddock. We’ve always had a good opinion of I really don’t want to rush her because she is a big strong filly and she will be better at three years old.
Bowman paid $180,000 for Bubble Palace in the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Meanwhile, Bowman will agree with Fortunate Kiss in this Saturday’s $500,000 Group 1 Australasian Oaks over 2,000 meters in Morphettville. Fortunate Kiss finished fourth in its last start at Caulfield earlier this month.
“Fortunate Kiss have been training well since their last start,” he said. “The big question for her is to see if she can run the 2,000 metres, but you never know if you’re not lucky.
Of his 10 starts, Fortunate Kiss has won two races and earned more than $168,000 in relationship staking.
One for trivia lovers. Winslow workout exporter Ciaron Maher has produced hundreds of winners in his career, but one race that has eluded him is the Warrnambool Cup. Maher, who has a burning ambition to form the cup winner, seems to have his best chance with Grandslam this year. The former Emmanuel College student has had just seven runners in the cup since he started training in 2006. His cup runners were 2008 (Brough Superior), 2012 (Mr O’Ceirin and Black Oak, 2014 (Moudre), 2019 (Sopresso and Azuro) and 2021 (Heart Of Pussiance). His best effort was Heart Of Power, which finished second last year, but that could change everything when Grandslam takes part in the cut 2022 on May 5th.
More than 80 horses will have been put through their paces in the jumping events at Warrnambool on Wednesday ahead of the big May Carnival next week. Local trainer Symon Wilde has 10 horses entered, including Under The Bridge, Vanguard and American In Paris, while veteran jumps trainer Eric Musgrove will have 12 horses competing in the hurdles and steeplechase events.
Ciaron Maher, who has trained five Grand Annual Steeplechase winners, rides three horses including Big Blue, Bit Of A Lad and Heberite. A restricted 2400 meter hurdles event begins the day at 9.30am.
Jockey Mitch Aitken will be sidelined for eight matches after pleading guilty to a whipping offense in Werribee on Friday. It was discovered that Aitken had used his whip eight times before the 100-yard mark – three times more than was allowed. His suspension began at midnight August 23 and ends at midnight April 29.