MINERVINI’S DOUBLE HOPES GO ASTRAY

THE best laid plans don’t always work out!

Mark Minervini was confident he had two really good prospects at different tracks tomorrow – but might be sitting at home rather than being trackside.

The Newcastle trainer, who has prepared 21 winners so far this season to boost his career tally beyond 500, accepted with Shall Be in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens, and Pratt (pictured above) in the Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m) at Wyong.

Unfortunately, hat-trick seeker Pratt has a cough and won’t be running, and Shall Be is under veterinary attention with a hoof abscess and is only a 50-50 chance of lining up.

“It’s obviously disappointing as both horses have been going well,” Minervini said this morning.

“Pratt will be right to start next Saturday at home in a Benchmark 64 Handicap over 900m.

“He has had a nice break since his last start, and I’m sure he will be fine to go for the hat-trick next week.”

A new addition to Minervini’s team, the Exceed and Excel three-year-old has impressed in his recent victories at Newcastle and Wyong.

He led throughout to easily win a 900m Maiden at Newcastle on May 26 on a ‘Heavy 10’, then again outpaced his opposition in a Midway Class 1 Handicap (1000m) at Wyong on June 8.

Minervini had Shall Be, who has won four of his eight starts to date, ready to resume at Rosehill Gardens.

“It will be a real shame if we can’t run him,” he said.

“He has been going well, and I felt it was a suitable race to get his first success in town.

“We’ll make a decision first thing in the morning, but at this stage he is 50-50 about running.

“Obviously I won’t risk him if he isn’t right.”

Shall Be hasn’t raced since beating Power Of The Brave and Oakfield Badger in a Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1000m) at Wyong on April 17.

. Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan will attempt to clinch both a hat-trick and a Grafton Cup berth with Stylebender when the famous five-day July carnival kicks off on Sunday.

Buchanan runs her latest Newcastle winner Stylebender in the Cup Quality Prelude (2230m).

The winner automatically becomes exempt from any ballot for the $200,000 Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) on July 17.

Apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald rode Stylebender in a tenacious Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1890m) victory on June 28, and retains the mount even though it is a non-claiming race.

Stylebender (Jay Ford) also had won a Benchmark 64 Handicap (2000m) on his home track on June 8.

Wyong apprentice Anna Roper also heads to Grafton after fulfilling Rosehill Gardens commitments tomorrow, and rides Cascade Mountain in the Cup Prelude.

She also partners her last start Taree winner Zaru in the John Carlton Quality (1190m), where the winner also secures automatic entry into the $200,000 Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) on July 16.

Story John Curtis, July 4, 2025