Interest Point ridden by Beau Mertens wins the Catanach’s Jewellers Plate at Mornington Racecourse on May 13, 2024 in Mornington, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)
David Brideoake and Matt Jenkins have decided to head straight to town for a two-year-old race with their impressive debut winner Interest Point.
A Mornington winner, Interest Point lines up against six opponents in the Dexion Victoria Handicap (1100m) on Saturday with Brideoake hoping a city win may prove a big win for connections.
Interest Point is a half-brother to Allibor who found his way to Hong Kong back in 2021 after winning the Group 2 Sandown Guineas.
“I bred him,” Brideoake said.
“He’s a half-brother to Symon Wilde’s horse that won the Sandown Guineas that was sold to Hong Kong.
“Yet’s hope we can get a result and maybe Hong Kong will come knocking again.”
Unfortunately, Allibor, who raced as Helene Allibor in Hong Kong, was unable to win in 23 starts in the Asian mecca for racing and has returned to Australia where he is about to embark on a return to racing.
He is in the care of the Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes, and is among acceptances for a benchmark 58 race at Wangaratta on Sunday.
Brideoake said Interest Point, a son of Royal Ascot winner Blue Point, was bombproof the way he went about his business on debut at Mornington on May 13, winning by 2-¾ lengths.
However, Brideoake said the Godolphin galloper Mellifluent, prepared by James Cummings, could cause some grief.
“He’s a good-tempered animal and has done nothing wrong since and I’m just hopeful that it all works out for us,” Brideoake said.
“We’ve drawn outside, and I think the Godolphin horse Mellifluent has a bit of quality about him.
“I’m really happy with my horse and I think what we do is have a go at the race.
“It’s a small field, he’s drawn the outside gate, so who knows, but the horse is well.”