Hellbent No Certainty To Contest Coolmore Stud Stakes

Hellbent has made the trip to Melbourne, but he is still no certainty to contest the 2015 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

Blake Shinn will ride Hellbent if he takes his place in the 2015 Coolmore Stud Stakes field. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Blake Shinn will ride Hellbent if he takes his place in the 2015 Coolmore Stud Stakes field. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Hellbent showed that he had plenty of talent when he won two barrier trials as a two-year-old earlier this year and he made his racing debut with a win over Echo Queen and Kimberley Star in the McGrath Estate Agents Maiden (1100m) at Canterbury on June 24.

The I Am Invincible colt started his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival with a dominant four lengths victory in the Ranvet Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 30 and he went into the Listed Brian Crowley Handicap (1200m) at Royal Randwick as a short-priced favourite, but he had no luck in running whatsoever and he could finish no better than third behind Counterattack and Spill The Beans.

Hellbent was initially sent to head to the spelling paddock following the tough run, but Goldman was happy with the way that the three-year-old bounced back from the tough run and he sent him to Flemington on Sunday night, but he told Sky Racing HQ that he will not commit to running his star galloper in the 2015 Coolmore Stud Stakes until he sees how he comes through his track work gallop down the Flemington straight this morning.

“The horse came through that run the Randwick the other day really well although he copped a big of interference,” Goldman said.

“We were quite happy with the horse and we just felt that the trip away wasn’t going to hurt him and it will only benefit him even further on in his career.

“He travelled down on Sunday night, he galloped on the course proper this morning and he has a good hit out.

“He worked quite nice and we will just see how he comes through the gallop and how much effect it will have on him and we will make up own mind on whether he runs on Saturday.

“If we do run him on Saturday he will be thrown in the deep end, there is no doubt about that.

“He will be taking on a number of seasoned three-year-olds and horses that have already proven themselves at the highest level.

“We are here, the horse is well and we will see how an effect the gallop has had on him before we make a decision.

“He hasn’t missed an oat or turned a hair since he has been here and hopefully we do see him on Saturday.

“We are very happy with the horse and he looks terrific.”

Hellbent is currently available at 2015 Coolmore Stud Stakes odds of $13 with Ladbrokes and he is on the fifth line of betting behind Exosphere ($1.40), Keen Array ($8), Mogador ($9) and Japonisme ($11).

You can score the best Coolmore Stud Stakes odds with Ladbrokes, who will offer Best Tote or Starting Price +20% for every single race at Flemington on Saturday.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.