PRATT KICKS HIS OWN GOAL

ARGUABLY the best full-forward in Australian Rules history, Harold “Bob” Pratt was one of the first inductees into the Hall Of Fame in 1996, and immediately elevated to “Legend” status.

Newcastle trainer Mark Minervini obviously can’t be sure the young horse named after the South Melbourne and Coburg star of the 1930s and 40s will scale similar heights, but he’s confident he has a nice future all the same.

Having his first start for his new trainer after being purchased online for $45,000 in February, Pratt ($1.45 favorite) kicked an important goal of his own at his new home track at Broadmeadow today.

Ridden by Aaron Bullock, Pratt speared to the front at the start of the 900m Maiden Handicap, and never gave his opposition a chance.

He scored by more than three and a quarter lengths from fellow Newcastle pair, Kris Lees’ Enchanted Heart ($14) and Paul Perry’s Perasta ($4.20).

A son of Exceed And Excel, Pratt fetched $270,000 as a 2023 Inglis Australian Easter yearling and had three unplaced runs for Sydney’s champion trainer Chris Waller before being put on the market earlier this year.

“Victoria’s Rosemont Stud name a number of their horses after legendary AFL players (John O’Shea and Tom Charlton’s Group 1 winner Schwarz is another), and apparently decided not to continue with him as a gelding,” Minervini said.

“Damien Fitton, who worked for Chris before starting his own business and helps me with programming and jockey bookings, recommended Pratt as being worth a gamble.

“I didn’t expect to pay as much as I did, but he is a lightly-raced three-year-old and I’m sure he will recoup his purchase price and then some.

Interestingly, the name Pratt appears twice in the racebook as part-owners of the gelding.

“Craig Pratt and his son Ethan were following Pratt when he began racing because of the name, and got in touch with me when they realised I had bought him,” Minervini said.

“They wanted to take shares in the horse when I syndicated him, and of course I was happy to have them involved.

“I haven’t met them in person and they weren’t at the races today, but sent a message afterwards saying they were ‘over the moon’ with the result.”

Pratt was Minervini’s 18th winner this season and his 494th overall as he nears a career half century.

He had hoped to not only win the first with Pratt, but also the closer with Bella Kathleen ($4.20 favorite).

Unfortunately, she couldn’t uphold her end of the bargain.

After making a bold bid for victory in the Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1870m), she weakened to finish sixth to Kris Lees’ well supported Bengal Boy ($4.60).

“It looks as though 1600m is Bella Kathleen’s limit,” Minervini said.

Bengal Boy gave leading Newcastle trainer Lees the last two races, having also snared the previous race, the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1250m), with French Marine ($5.50).

Story John Curtis, May 27, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos