IT’S onwards and upwards for the connections of Penny To Sell, after the Bendigo mare officially missed a place in the top 10 for the inaugural $5 million All-Star Mile.
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That translates to a trip to South Australia this weekend for a start in a 1550m benchmark 90 handicap at Morphettville on Saturday in the hopes of bolstering the seven-year-old’s credentials for a wildcard into the weight-for-age race field.
Racing Victoria officially unveiled the 10 entries voted into the March 16 race at Flemington on Thursday morning. Among them was the Western Australian-trained Material Man, who is being stabled at Brian and Ashley McKnight’s property at Maldon while in Victoria for his autumn campaign.
With Happy Clapper, who finished second to champion galloper Winx in last Saturday’s Apollo Stakes in Sydney, awarded the first of four wildcard entries into the race, just three spots remain open.
While trainer Mick Sell and wife Melissa remain hopeful of a wildcard berth with Penny To Sell, they concede the horse’s small ownership base meant the odds were always against them claiming a spot in the top 10.
“We were absolutely stoked with the support we got; in all honesty I think we were the only horse in the top 20 that actually didn’t have syndication behind it, or powerful ownership bases,” he said.
“We solidly held our ground (in the top 20) all the way through, for which we are thankful for everyone who voted.
“The wildcards only get taken from the top 24 horses, so with some horses already out like The Autumn Sun (who finished in the top 10, but whose trained Chris Waller turned down the nomination), we’re still in with a chance.”
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Penny To Sell returned from an eight-week spell at Flemington last Saturday, when unplaced over 1400m, but will be stepping up to her preferred distance (1550m/1600m) at Morphettville.
The mare will go head-to-head with the classy Trent Bussutin and Natalie Young-trained last start winner Our Peaky Blinders, but will meet the gelding 2.5 kg better in weights following a claim for apprentice Tahlia Hope.
Penny To Sell officially finished 21st in voting with 1895 votes.
Meanwhile, Pat Keating – the travelling foreman for Western Australian trainer Justin Warwick – said the stable was thrilled to have wrapped up an All-Star Mile spot with Material Man.
The seven-year-old gelding garnered massive support in voting from his home state, with Keating also paying thanks to the ‘extra support’ from those in the Maldon region, where the galloper is being stabled.
“It’s great to no longer have to be chasing a spot, we’re in it,” he said.
“It’s what we came over to do.”
Material Man will continue his preparation for the All-Star Mile in Saturday’s $500,000 Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield, with Keating delighted with how the seven-time Group or Listed race winner had pulled up after Wednesday’s track gallop at Bendigo racecourse.
“He had a nice little trot this morning (Thursday) and everything is spot on for Saturday,” he said.
“Justin will be over today (from Western Australia) and will have a look at him and hopefully it’s onwards and upwards to Saturday.
“I think he can run in the first three or four – it’s not his peak distance but he is definitely in good condition and only got beaten a length and a half by them last time (in last week’s Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes).
“The race wasn’t run to suit, so if it’s a more truly run race he will be in it up to his eyeballs.”
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The top 10 voted into the field are (in order):
Balf’s Choice (9793)
Urban Ruler (8428)
Grunt (7097)
Alizee (6744)
Amphitrite (5784)
Material Man (5358)
Man of His Word (5135)
Moss ‘n’ Dale (5072)
Mr Money Bags (5013)
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