Ray Thomas
TRAINER Theresa Bateup has an uncanny knack of buying racehorses for modest sums and turning them into money-making machines.
Two of the best examples of Bateup’s penchant for profit are Fleeting Stryke, a $2000 buy who has won nearly $120,000 prizemoney, and Burden Of Proof, who cost $3000 and has now won more than $80,000.
Taqueda, also $3000 purchase, isn’t quite in the same league of her stablemates yet but she is poised to add to her career earnings of $24,700 when she contests the Class 1 and Maiden Plate (1600m) at Nowra.
“I bought Taqueda at the same time I purchased Burden Of Proof,’’ Bateup said.
“They went through their first couple of preparations together and early on Taqueda had the wood on Burden Of Proof.
“Even this preparation, they have done a lot of their main gallops together and there is not much between them in their work.
“Taqueda is going well and has been placed at Nowra and Kembla Grange at her last two starts. I would say she is our best chance (today).’’
Bateup, who is having a breakout season with 21 winners including four wins from her last 10 starters, has a five-strong team entered for four races at the Nowra meeting.
“Serious Moonlight (race two) is having his first preparation for me and his two runs have been good but I’m still working him out,’’ Bateup said.
“I’m not entirely convinced he can run a strong 1100m. He has had the two runs back and this is a small field so it is good time to test him at 1100m.
“Zariz Alwyns is in two races but I’m probably going to run her in the 1200m (race four) as she is better off at the weights.
“She had been through a number of trainers before she came to me without having won a race and we managed to win two races with her last preparation. She has had a freshen up and is one who is crying out for wet tracks.
“The penny really dropped with Old’s Man Angel (race four) last reparation. He is a horse that is better over further but he can run a nice race first-up and he seems to get through the ground.
“Queen Elektra (race seven) will appreciate the soft track but maybe prefers it over a little further.’’
Bateup said Burden Of Proof has come through last Saturday’s win in good order and is favouring another start at the provincials for the in-form filly while Fleeting Stryke could resume at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
“Burden Of Proof is so honest, she is such a little trooper, she never runs a bad race and has probably exceeded expectations,’’ Bateup said.
“When you consider the money we paid for her, if she had won a couple in the bush we would have been happy but she has won three at the provincials, one at Nowra and ran in a Group 3 race and didn’t disgrace herself.’’
Story first published in the Daily Telegraph
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/superracing/nsw-racing/raceday-focus-ray-thomas-previews-nowra-and-tamworth-meetings/news-story/a1658d420c9a7883cfc112ab6b430f9d