BENDIGO Horse of the Year winner Master’s Degree will be set for some of the spring carnival’s feature staying races.
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Trainer Steven Lake said the five-year-old’s next run will be the $150,000 Group Three The Bart Cummings at Flemington on October 4.
A competitive performance there would see the front running stayer head to the $250,000 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) on Cox Plate day.
The $100,000 Carnival Handicap (2800m), formerly known as the Lavazza Long Black, is the third leg of Lake’s spring carnival plan.
“His first two runs this preparation have been satisfactory,’’ Lake said of Master’s Degree.
“He is getting close to peak fitness, which he needs to be because his racing style is very taxing
“I’m hoping he gets a run in The Bart Cummings, and I’m expecting he will, and if he runs well there we’ll head to Moonee Valley.
“I was really keen to run him in the Lavazza last year, but he was third emergency and didn’t get a run.”
Master’s Degree was named the 2013-14 Bendigo Horse of the Year and the region’s premier stayer at a gala function at Silks on Saturday night.
Master’s Degree progressed from a 62 rated galloper to a city winning stayer last season.
He won three races, including a stunning all the way victory in the Tour of Victoria Distance Final (2500m) at Moonee Valley.
He was also placed three times, twice at Moonee Valley over staying trips.
“I thought he was a good chance of winning the best stayer award, but I wasn’t as confident for Horse of the Year,’’ Lake admitted.
“As far as the Horse of the Year was concerned he wasn’t up against a Villa Verde or Hai Lil in their peak form, so we gave him some chance.
“He won more than $120,000 for the preparation and, as far as money is concerned, I’ve never had a horse win that much in one preparation.
“We were very excited for him to win the award. He’s a worthy winner.”
Bendigo businessman Ted Aldridge bred Master’s Degree and he races the gelding with Lake.
“About halfway through last preparation we were offered good money for the horse,’’ Aldridge said.
“At that stage he’d only won one race, but I thought the horse had a fair bit of ability and that he’d be a good jumper down the track.
“Steve asked me what I wanted to do. In fairness to us, Steve and the horse, I thought it was best to wait until we got through to the end of the preparation, see what the horse has achieved and check then if the people were still interested in buying him.
“The horse then came out and won by 13 lengths at Tatura, ran poorly at Bendigo, placed at Moonee Valley and won his next start at Bendigo. Then he went on to win at Moonee Valley.
“All of a sudden the decision not to sell was a good one.”
Aldridge’s $7000 investment for Bianconi’s service fee has turned out to be a smart one.
Master’s Degree has won more than $143,000 in career prizemoney and the expectation is his best form is still to come.
“Steve’s done a wonderful job with the horse,’’ Aldridge said.
“You know with Steve that he’s going to give his horses the best care possible.”
Aldridge and Lake go back a long way, having combined with smart stayer Never Dull to run third in the 2001 Bendigo Cup.
“I’ve had Never Dull run third in the Bendigo Cup and Hoodlum (trained by Shane Fliedner) ran second in the (2007) Bendigo Cup,’’ Aldridge said.
“I’d love to win a Bendigo Cup. Maybe next year Master’s Degree could be a good chance.”
Bendigo Horse of the Year awards night:
Employee of the Year sponsored by WFI Insurance - Courtney Pace.
2YO of the Year sponsored by Killarney Park Agistment - Jarklin trained by Rodney Symons.
3YO of the Year sponsored by Victorian Equine Group - King of Manners trained by Shaun Dwyer.
Picnic Horse of the Year sponsored by CEPA – Supreme Athena trained by Brad Cole.
Strike Rate trainer of the Year sponsored by Evolve Accounting Solutions - Kym Hann.
Sprinter of the Year sponsored by Landmark - Mr Cooley trained by Paul Banks.
Middle Distance Horse of the Year sponsored by Centre State Cranes – Basham trained by Shaun Dwyer.
Stayer of the Year sponsored by Big Boy Bin Hire – Master’s Degree trained by Steven Lake.
Premiership Trainer of the Year sponsored by Ace Laboratory Services – Shaun Dwyer.
Bendigo Horse of the Year sponsored by the Bendigo Jockey Club and the Bendigo Trainers Association - Master’s Degree trained by Steven Lake.