As if it isn't hard enough being a trainer...Paul Messara, who has odds-on fav Beneteau in Sat's Skyline Stakes, has been copping death threats from a disgruntled punter. He says: 'I have had a bloke ringing me at all times of the day and night with death threats because he backed one of my horses which was beaten as favorite...I just don't answer those unknown numbers now because I don't need that sort of stuff.'Meantime, Damien Oliver is the new jockey for Beneteau, replacing apprentice Daniel
As if it isn't hard enough being a trainer...Paul Messara, who has odds-on fav Beneteau in Sat's Skyline Stakes, has been copping death threats from a disgruntled punter. He says: 'I have had a bloke ringing me at all times of the day and night with death threats because he backed one of my horses which was beaten as favorite...I just don't answer those unknown numbers now because I don't need that sort of stuff.'
Meantime, Damien Oliver is the new jockey for Beneteau, replacing apprentice Daniel Ganderton, and the colt is a $1.65 (4/6) fav with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Hinchinbrook and Ilovethiscity at $6. Messara says: 'Damien is an old head and it can only help.'
Damien Oliver has another strongly-fancied mount in Crystal Lily, backed in to favoritism for the Grp 3 Sweet Embrace Stakes. The Melbourne filly, easy winner of the Chairman's Stakes at Caulfield last start, opened at $4 with TAB Sportsbet but was in to $2.90 late on Thursday. The first bet to arrive was $5000 at $4 and the money kept coming at $3.60, $3.20 and $2.90 Although not nominated for the Golden Slipper, Crystal Lily has been heavily supported for the $3.5 million Grp 1 on April 3. One punter had $10,000 on her at $17 and it was followed by bets of $4000 and $2000 each-way at $15.