With the racing season coming to a close, the good racing begins and with that, the door for 2024/25 will be properly shut. As is the case every day when racing is on, there is unlucky runs and hard watching of races and runners.
Down below is what we feel are the 10 unluckiest runs of 2024/25.
1: Territory Express Five Diamonds: The first two are pocket talk, so I’ll get that out of the road straight away. Starting with Territory Express, who doesn’t help himself with his racing style, but this race in particular…oh gee it was a hard watch. He was absolutely bolting and with clear air, he would have won by a space. But Zac Lloyd zigged when he should have zagged. Rode for luck to get the run and it just didn’t eventuate.
He got out very late but the race was all over and if you were on (I was), then yes…apologies for bringing up the nightmare.
The $2 Million Five Diamonds belongs to Pericles! 💎@KPMcEvoy | @JamesCummings88 | @godolphin pic.twitter.com/7RDDz3v0hf
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 9, 2024
2: Vestas Red Roses: 37 races across Cup Week at Flemington and this was clearly the sickest watch across the four days. She should have bolted in, simple as that. But, Ben Melham produced an absolute howler in trying to get to the outside fence from the inside gate, getting badly held up before eventually getting clear air and she rocketed late to place in a race that can be a good reference going forward.
She looks like an absolute rocket and is destined for better races so keen to see how she goes in 2025.
Never count out @mcacajamez 😤
AMELITA finds the path to victory and salutes over 1100m in the 3AW Red Roses Stakes.
🎥 @wwos | #OaksDay | #MelbCupCarnival pic.twitter.com/NqiLG4PZPy
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 7, 2024
3: Tom Kitten Futurity Stakes: Punters rejoiced when Mr Brightside got the win but all things being equal, Tom Kitten wins if he had clear air from the top of the straight. Instead, it was an ugly watch, only getting clear late and savaged the line to just miss.
He of course went on to win the All Star Mile and could be in for a big Spring.
IT’S MR BRIGHTSIDE! WHAT A RACEHORSE!
The 7-year-old gelding captured his 9th Group 1 win in the $750,000 Futurity Stakes (G1) at Caulfield. Regular rider @CWilliamsJockey was on board for trainers @lindsayparkrace.
Jump in on the next: https://t.co/P85jVlpptu pic.twitter.com/lAFYtlxGIX
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 22, 2025
4: Stefi Magnetica Golden Eagle: It was a frustrating Spring for the Stradbroke winner, with the clear unlucky run coming here in the Golden Eagle. She was back in the run but trucking before slicing her way through the field and she was about to burst through and win, but those in front closed the gap and she was lucky to stay on her feet in what was a horrendous watch for those that were on.
She backed up in the Champions Mile and ran out of her skin behind Mr Brightside, but the Golden Eagle was the one that got away.
👏 @WilliamHaggas has done it again!
Lake Forest wins the $10 Million Golden Eagle with Cieren Fallon in the saddle!@aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/Hr3IR1vG2x
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 2, 2024
5: Another Will All Star Mile: Tom Kitten won, but I think with a clear path, Another Wil wins and wins comfortably. Jamie Melham just got the ride wrong. She zigged when she should have zagged and in the end, he was lucky to stay up.
He has the engine under the hood to be a top class animal and this is a race that I think he should have won.
WHAT A RACE! ⭐️
Tom Kitten defeats Mr Brightside in a thrilling edition of All-Star Mile 7 😺@godolphin @BMelham pic.twitter.com/wqX55HnRJz
— Racing.com (@Racing) March 8, 2025
6: Gringotts Bill Ritchie: Sick watch if you were on (not for those who got the $101+ early for McHale). Gringotts got badly held up and was in restricted room, seemingly with plenty up the sleeve. He got clear air late and savaged the line. Much like Craig at Flemington, he looked the winner to the eye, but the photo went the way of McHale in what was a deceptive finish for those watching live.
It wasn’t the end of the world for Gringotts though, who went on to have a fabulous Spring, headlined by a dominant win in The Gong.
A total thriller in the G3 Bill Ritchie Handicap, with the outsider Mchale victorious by the narrowest of margins for @RachelK11 and @cwallerracing! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/7jlz2ZWOVt
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 21, 2024
7: Olentia Triscay: Gee this was an ugly watch if you were on. She was well backed late and had the suck run in transit off the good speed. The problem was that Tommy stuck inside instead of tracking up and following Semana, where she would have got to the outside, with clear air, and I dare say would have win. Instead, he rode for luck and didn’t get the clearest of paths in the straight.
Frustrating horse to follow has been Olentia but she has the talent to be a Group l horse, so it’ll be interesting to see how her 2025 goes.
Semana takes the Group 3 Triscay Stakes from Olentia who had a tricky time along the rails!
Jason Collett gives the @cmaherracing mare a top ride. pic.twitter.com/hLGWGPfgO9
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 17, 2024
8: Growing Empire Manikato: This wasn’t so much unlucky as in held up, unlucky, should have won. It was just a case of how didn’t he win when he looked the winner for 1199m of the 1200m the Manikato is. He did the work on speed but booted clear on the turn and was hailed as the winner, but Mark Zahra on Southport Tycoon got a magical inside split, drove hard the final 50m and got the stride in to win.
It didn’t take anything away from Growing Empire and what a star three year old he is. It’ll be fascinating to see what he does in the Autumn.
Second Gr1 win for Written Tycoon 4yo SOUTHPORT TYCOON in the Manikato Stakes@cmaherracing @mmsnippets @RacingBennett @Widdenstud @SegenhoeGroup @YulongInvest @vicbreeders pic.twitter.com/RWRlvVuoaU
— Pedigree Update (@pedigreeupdate) September 27, 2024
9: Plundering – Ipswich: Bit of a left field one here. He is a talented horse Plundering but can find one or two better on the day on occasion. But on this particular occasion, it was a brutal beat. He got badly held up behind the speed with Jimmy Orman trying to get clear air and let him wind up. Unfortunately it didn’t eventuate until it was too late, getting clear and savaging the line to just miss.
He is a solid horse at benchmark level, but this is a race that should have been marked down as a win.
10: Nadal MSS Security Sprint: Promising four year old for Ciaron Maher that did bolt up in spectacular fashion next start, but this run, I think you can easily make a case to say he wins with clear air. But he couldn’t get out so Mick Dee had to wait, angle out and launched late to run a close up fourth to Rey Magnerio during Cup Week.
His win next start in The Meteorite was enormous so he’s a horse heading in the right direction, but this was a tough watch.
What. A. Finish. 😤
REY MAGNERIO finally comes out on top, claiming victory in the Cirka Always Welcome Stakes.
🎥 @wwos | #StakesDay | #MelbCupCarnival pic.twitter.com/tI4o80WOjH
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 9, 2024
