Impressive Geelong winners look to be city bound

[Wandering Eyes]

Harry Coffey returns to the mounting yard on Belthil after winning at Geelong on Friday. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

Two smart gallopers made their successful racing returns in the space of 45 minutes at Geelong last Friday that could soon be city winners.

Tolpuddle and Bethil were both sensationally backed underlining the potential they have already displayed in trackwork and trials.

The Grahame Begg-trained Tolpuddle was the first to salute the judge after being crushed in the betting from $4 to $1.80.

While his winning margin wasn’t big, he was never going to lose as jockey Blaike McDougall didn’t knock the colt around too much over the final 100 metres.

Belthil was smashed from $2.20 to $1.45 with horse racing bookmakers and like Tolpuddle was never going to lose once he ambled up to his rivals around the home turn.

The former New Zealand galloper, who has joined the Andrew Bobbin stable at Stawell, was gelded before his return to racing following a few good jumpouts.

Bobbin was pleased enough with the win because Belthil has a few quirks and can sometimes play up in the barrier stalls

“He jumped well and landed on the bridle,” said winning hoop Harry Coffee.

“I was waiting for something to get wide to follow but I ended up the one being caught out wide.

“He kept in a nice rhythm and showed a good turn of foot coming into the straight.

“If we’d had cover he would have looked good but he was still impressive the way he was.”

Bobbin said the stable would “keep a lid on everything”.

“It was a pretty average summertime maiden at Geelong.

“I had a chat with Harry (Coffee) and told him the first time he walked off the float he looked like a miler and beyond.

“We’ll work out where we go once the dust settles.”

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