Good times roll for Gavin

Gavin Bedggood continues to hit new heights in his training career and is on the cusp of achieving another milestone with at least one more winner needed in the coming days.

Last week, he recorded four winners at a single meeting for the first time at his home track of Cranbourne, then followed up with another win at Sandown Hillside on Saturday courtesy of Hughes. That brought his May tally to 10, equalling his most successful month since first hitting double digits in April.

Bedggood has Juviance and Nimbustwothousand accepted to run at Pakenham on Thursday night, with Blazing Rebel and Grouse Mountain set for Cranbourne on Friday night. On Saturday, Oscar’s Fortune and Windstorm will contest races at Caulfield, while Jennilala will head to Eagle Farm.

“I’m hopeful more than confident. I’ve got nice chances tomorrow night and Friday night. Saturday is a bit of an unknown,” Bedggood said.

His season tally now sits at 53 winners, a personal best.

“The start of the season the aim was to train 50 winners and we’ve gone past that with a couple of months to go. Sixty is now the target, which is a reasonable chance,” he said.

Oscar’s Fortune and Windstorm will clash in the JRA Handicap (1600m).

Bedggood described the decision to stretch Oscar’s Fortune, a son of Rich Enuff and formerly a top Western Australian sprinter, to 1600m for the first time as a worthwhile experiment.

“He came to us as a well-credentialled sprinter and he probably hasn’t stood up at a higher level in Victoria but I thought as he’s racing well and not winning it was the optimum time to try him over a longer trip,” Bedggood said.

Oscar’s Fortune finished third behind War Machine two starts back over 1400m at Caulfield, a run that pleased Bedggood. However, in his most recent outing at Sandown over the same distance, he was forced to work hard early from a wide gate and faded to finish fifth behind Magnaspin.

Looking ahead, Bedggood said upcoming 1400m races at Flemington and Sandown might expose Oscar’s Fortune late, and that Caulfield might prove more suitable.

“He’s back to Caulfield on Saturday, back around a corner and the mile is a question mark but all of the data we get from the horse says he will run a trip. If he goes about it the right way by coming out neutral, I think he can,” he said.

“We’re still finding our way with him but if he can run it there’s more options for him such as the Winter Championship.”

Bedggood added that the presence of front-runners like Oscar’s Fortune and Regal Zeus could benefit Windstorm’s chances.

“He’s a frustrating horse. He’s racing well without a lot of luck. They went very slow the other day when he finished seventh at Sandown, which doesn’t suit him. He needs a genuinely run race,” Bedggood said.

“He’s won a couple at Caulfield and he’s down in the weights.”

Both Oscar’s Fortune and Windstorm are priced at $6.50 with top betting apps.