The in-form Theresa Bateup stable will prepare a three-pronged attack on Sunday’s $80,000 Bega Cup (1600m).
Bateup won the 2025 edition with Direct Fire, who was ridden to a gutsy victory by Amy McLucas.
The 5YO Dracarys gelding will again have McLucas (54kg) in the saddle when leading the charge on Sunday, alongside stablemates Tartana (Jess Taylor, 54kg) and Master Riley (Brock Ryan, 54kg).
All three gallopers boast winning chances, and Direct Fire will arrive at the Sapphire Coast Turf Club following a recent Warwick Farm placing when running third in a 1400m Benchmark 72 Handicap on Monday.
The four-time winner has mixed his form this preparation, but in recent starts, he is finding his best ahead of Sunday’s Big Dance qualifier.
In the same race at Warwick Farm on Monday, Master Riley continued his good preparation, running second.
The 5YO Hellbent gelding is a three-time winner, and his best form is good enough to win a Bega Cup.
Three starts back, the Kembla Grange galloper ran an enormous race to finish fourth in the Nowra Cup (1600m), finishing two lengths off subsequent winner and Royal Randwick placegetter, Rolling Magic.
Arguably, the stable’s best chance is Tartana, who’s been racing in great form.
The 6YO Invader mare went agonisingly close in the Moruya Town Plate earlier this month, storming home for Jess Taylor to finish second in the feature sprint to recent Canterbury placegetter, Who But Roo.
Tartana followed that good effort up, finishing second in the 1300m Benchmark 68 Handicap at Kembla Grange on January 22.
Third-up from a spell, the four-time winner will be primed for a big effort at the Sapphire Coast.
For Bateup, it’s set to be a massive Bega Cup carnival, with the stable starting 15 chances across the weekend.
Along with their Bega Cup chances on Sunday, the team has Pretty Please (Jess Taylor, 55kg) contesting the Bateup Racing Sapphire Coast Cup (2200m), Lady Yarrow (Jess Taylor, 55kg) is in the 1200m Class Two Handicap, and Liamena Avenue (Amy McLucas, 58kg) will run in the 1200m Benchmark 58 Handicap.
The $50,000 Super Maiden Plate (1400m) is another race Bateup will target, with Edorado (Jess Taylor, 59kg), Brundee Tom (Brock Ryan, 58.5kg), and Star Of Kyeema (Winona Costin, 57kg) representing the stable’s chances.
On Saturday, the stable has Sir Sublime (Brock Ryan, 55kg) in the 1600m Class Two Handicap and London Star (Jess Taylor, 57kg) in the 1400m Class One Handicap.
Stable favourite Victory At Omaha (Jess Taylor, 58.5kg) is in the Bateup Racing 1400m Benchmark 66 Handicap, and the trio Sablonneuse (Brock Ryan, 57kg), Rubilace (Jess Taylor, 56.5kg), and debutant Frosted Armour (Amy McLucas, 55.5kg) in the 1200m Maiden Handicap.
Words: Jeff Hanson
Image: Bradley Photos