Promising Gosford apprentice Jake Hull will be out to maintain his 100 per cent winning record aboard Hello Gorgeous at Bathurst on Saturday.
Apprenticed to the five-year-old mare’s trainer Grant Allard, the former strapper of champion Lonhro, Hull partners Hello Gorgeous in the Skilled Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1800m.
“Jake and the mare seemed to have clicked, he’s won two from two,” Allard said.
“He rides her work, knows her, but more importantly Jake is very good at rating frontrunning stayers.”
Hull, who rides without a claim in country areas, scored aboard the daughter of Nothin’ Leica Dane in her maiden win at Cessnock and over 1600m at Tamworth in November last year before she was spelled for 50 weeks.
According to Allard, Hello Gorgeous fails to live up to her name.
“She’s far from gorgeous, tall, lean and not much to look at,” he said.
“She’s like a Kenyan or Ethiopian runner.
“She can tuck the food away but you can’t see where she’s put it.
“That’s been one of her problems to date. She needs to strengthen up.
“When she does I think I can get her up to 2400 metres. There’s a metropolitan race in her.
“At the moment she’s only been very lightly raced. There’s still plenty of upside.”
Allard had the mare entered at Cessnock on Friday but the meeting was washed out.
“Fortunately I took the precaution of the Bathurst race, which I think suits her,” he said.
“Her two runs in have been good.”
A frontrunning mare, Hello Gorgeous resumed over 1600m at Gosford on November 5, finishing 1-1/2-lengths fourth to Tee Tee Dancer who contests Sunday’s $50,000 Taree Cup.
Last start, Hello Gorgeous again led but just failed when runner-up to Rembetica over 1550m at Cessnock on November 22.
“She set a fast tempo at Gosford and only got collared late,” Allard said.
“At Cessnock, she probably didn’t run along quick enough and was taken on a fair way from home.
“I’ve kept her on the fresh side a bit so she can still sprint when needed.
“I’m happy with where she’s at.”
AAP TURF
