Warrnambool galloper Makewhole looks a bargain buy following a maiden highweight victory at his home track last Sunday.
With veteran jumps jockey Tom Ryan in the saddle, Makewhole ($3.30) defeated Flood And Fire by a length and a quarter over 2000 metres.
Trainer Peter Lafferty revealed Makeover was purchased in an online sale in the autumn for $7500 after the gelding had three unplaced runs for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.
“It looks like a good buy now,” Lafferty said. “He’s only had the two starts for us, a second at Swan Hill and the win today. I think there might be another few wins in him.
“I can’t take much credit. The credit goes to my son Harry. He’s done a lot of the work with the horse. We’ve got no big plans for the horse — we’ll just take him through his grades slowly.”
From his two runs for Lafferty, Makeover has earned $22,050 in prizemoney.
Pateman’s back, quietly
Champion jumps jockey Steve Pateman made a low-key return to race riding at the Warrnambool meeting after more than a year on the sidelines.
Pateman rode the Ciaron Maher-trained Chains Of Honour into fifth place in an open hurdle and hopes to retain the mount on the lightly raced jumper in the Lafferty Hurdle at Warrnambool on July 7.
“It’s great to be back riding,” he said. “I’m sure I’ll derive great benefit out of the race and so will Chains Of Honour.
“Fabalot set a really keen pace. We were out the back and I think we’ll try and push forward in the Lafferty. My fitness levels should keep on improving now that I’m back race riding.”
Pateman, who has endured weight battles during his career, says he has his weight under control.
Butterfly effective
Expat Irish jumps jockey Will McCarthy predicts a bright career for New Zealand-bred jumper Irish Butterfly after the eight-year-old’s win in a maiden hurdle at Warrnambool.
Having just his fourth jumps start, Irish Butterfly ($5) was too strong for Pearl Rain and Wilewink over 3200 metres.
“I think Irish Butterfly has a future as a jumper,” McCarthy said. “I reckon he can go through his grades and will make a handy steeplechaser with time.”
Irish Butterfly was the first leg of a winning double for McCarthy. His other winner was Alibey in a flat race.
Major stakes
Grassmere trainer Adam Chambers is rolling the dice with stable star Major Share, with every start likely to have a significant effect on the gelding’s value.
Major Share was due to tackle a benchmark 64 at Bendigo as Winning Post went to press on Thursday, his third start in a career that kicked off with wins in a Terang maiden last December and a Bendigo benchmark 58 on June 4.
Chambers confirmed Major Share”s owners had knocked back substantial offers for the three-year-old following the first-up Bendigo win.
“We’ve had four parties from Hong Kong put offers on the table but we knocked them back,” Chambers said.
“Everything is for sale at the right price but Major Share’s owners don’t believe the offers are the right price.
“If he happens to win at Bendigo on Thursday and has three wins from three starts he’s worth a lot more money, but if he gets beat his price can plummet dramatically. The owners are prepared to take the chance.”
Chambers parted with $75,000 for Major Share at the 2022 Adelaide yearling sales and it only took him a day to sell the shares.
“From day one we knew he had a bit of ability,” he said. “He has a lot of upside and his owners have had a good ride so far.”
That’s all from Noel
Long-serving official Noel Ryan will draw the curtain on his time in the industry after the Casterton race meeting this Sunday.
Ryan, 74, has filled various roles since starting out as an assistant steward with the old South Western District Racing Association in 1985. For the last 23 years he’s been a clerk of scales.”
“I’ve really enjoyed my time in the industry but the time has come for me to pursue other interests,” Ryan said.
“I’ve met and worked with some great people and that has made my jobs in racing more enjoyable.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked at various racecourses across Victoria. Working at Caulfield and Flemington was a highlight, and another has been working at Warrnambool May carnivals, especially for the Grand Annual Steeplechase. They’re just incredible events.”
Racing Victoria is advertising Ryan’s job and applications close on July 22.