Heavier city tracks beckon for impressive “wet-tracker” Whirlpool
WHIRLPOOL looks set for metropolitan racing after maintaining a stellar run of form by taking out the Bi-Rite Home Appliances benchmark 70 at Wangaratta on Thursday.
Linda Meech brings up the 116th win of a prolific season on board Whirlpool in race 6 at @Wangarattatc #RecordBreaker pic.twitter.com/x9K4fowCGw
— Racing Victoria (@RacingInsider) June 22, 2017
The +220 second favourite at Crownbet.com.au loomed large early in the piece and looked to have peaked on its run coming around the straight, but the four-year-old kicked strongly to take out the race ahead of Baradine Boy ($2.20 at Sportsbet.com.au) and short-priced favourite But It’s True, which returned $1.04 at WilliamHill.com.au.
The mare’s trainer Peter Morgan joked he may even look to back up Whirlpool almost straight away if he can get a race to suit.
“Maybe Saturday,” the trainer told HorseBetting.com.au.
“There’s some races there on Saturday so who knows?”
Whirlpool ridden by Linda Meech wins the Bi-Rite Home Appliances Wangaratta BM70 Handicap @Wangarattatc More ? https://t.co/13Iio5pZAk pic.twitter.com/kTE8a1Sxng
— Racing Photos (@Racing__Photos) June 22, 2017
It may seem wildly optimistic to some, but such was the scale of the win that it would be foolish to rule the four-year-old out on a short turnaround.
Morgan said he was happy his galloper got the job done in consummate ease, boosting his confidence that a weekend race is not that far off.
“She’s won it pretty easy in the end, she had her ears pricked,” the trainer said.
“I thought she maybe hit the front a little too early there.
“She sort of loves to grab them on the line, but having said that, it wasn’t a really strong field and she’s a wet-tracker, so it was nice to get away with a race like that today.”
The rich vein of form which has seen the daughter of Sebring win twice and place once from four attempts has been a long-time coming for Morgan, who has remained patient.
The win on Thursday was just the third success from 13 starts, and while it took a trip up the highway to get a result, Morgan is adamant that Whirlpool belongs on the metro tracks.
“I’ve always said she’s probably city class, but we haven’t quite got there yet,” the trainer said.
“She’ll be better on a heavy track too.”
Thursday’s win proved just how good Whirlpool can be if it gets conditions to suit, but the trainer lamented how difficult it can be to find the right type of track – even in the Australian winter.
“We’ve got a problem (with finding the right race for Whirpool) in terms of how heavy tracks go, we just don’t seem to be getting them.
“It (can) work against us a bit.”