Berlioz: jumping to success
July 14th 2011 06:18
The rising 6 year old Zabeel gelding Berlioz has enjoyed a chequered racing career.
Emerging on the racing scene as a 3 year old he quickly rose through the grades, winning a Kyneton Maiden over 2000 metres at his 3rd start, and at his 6th start he was a placegetter at Group One, being narrowly defeated by Markus Maximus in the 2009 WATC Derby. Two weeks later he was a stakes-winner of the Listed VRC St Leger at Flemington.
With such a promising beginning much was expected from the David Hayes trained $200,000 William Inglis Easter Yearling purchase. But subsequently Berlioz appeared to lose all form with 5 unplaced runs (twice running last) before a shock win at Flemington in August 2010 when starting at 150/1.
But it was a false new dawn. Seven more inexplicable failures followed before anther surprise win (though this time only 12/1 in the 8 horse field) at Caulfield in April 2011.
Berlioz. Enigma. Puzzle. Failures would follow again.
(all photos: Neil Murray) click images for enlargements.
But on the 12th of July 2011 Berlioz made his hurdling debut at Mornington in the Maiden Hurdle over 3300 metres on a slow rated track. And leading all-the-way Berlioz won easily by 5 lengths - this time starting a $3.80 favourite. This the only time he has won when favourite apart from his Maiden victory when a $1.80 favourite.
Will this be the prelude to of a new ‘consistent’ age for Berlioz. Was Berlioz always a jumper-in-waiting? Will his new career prove to be more profitable than merely puzzling? Time - and Berlioz - will tell.
RacingWrite covered the shock win by Berlioz in an earlier article. For further reading click the link:
BERLIOZ: Longshot Winner
Emerging on the racing scene as a 3 year old he quickly rose through the grades, winning a Kyneton Maiden over 2000 metres at his 3rd start, and at his 6th start he was a placegetter at Group One, being narrowly defeated by Markus Maximus in the 2009 WATC Derby. Two weeks later he was a stakes-winner of the Listed VRC St Leger at Flemington.
Berlioz (Bill Williams) clear the last jump at Mornington
With such a promising beginning much was expected from the David Hayes trained $200,000 William Inglis Easter Yearling purchase. But subsequently Berlioz appeared to lose all form with 5 unplaced runs (twice running last) before a shock win at Flemington in August 2010 when starting at 150/1.
But it was a false new dawn. Seven more inexplicable failures followed before anther surprise win (though this time only 12/1 in the 8 horse field) at Caulfield in April 2011.
Berlioz. Enigma. Puzzle. Failures would follow again.
(all photos: Neil Murray) click images for enlargements.
Berlioz & Bill Williams examine the hurdle before the start
Berlioz well clear on the way to winning the Mornington hurdle
But on the 12th of July 2011 Berlioz made his hurdling debut at Mornington in the Maiden Hurdle over 3300 metres on a slow rated track. And leading all-the-way Berlioz won easily by 5 lengths - this time starting a $3.80 favourite. This the only time he has won when favourite apart from his Maiden victory when a $1.80 favourite.
Will this be the prelude to of a new ‘consistent’ age for Berlioz. Was Berlioz always a jumper-in-waiting? Will his new career prove to be more profitable than merely puzzling? Time - and Berlioz - will tell.
Berlioz (outside) winning at 150/1 at Flemington
RacingWrite covered the shock win by Berlioz in an earlier article. For further reading click the link:
BERLIOZ: Longshot Winner
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