Bull Point Unlikely To Run On Saturday

Talented colt Bull Point was included in the nominations for the Benchmark 95 Handicap that will be held at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, but trainer Chris Waller has revealed that his new recruit is no certainty to contest the $85,000 event.

Bull Point is unlikely to return to the races at Rosehill Gardens this weekend.

Bull Point is unlikely to return to the races at Rosehill Gardens this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Bull Point has not been seen at the races since he finished a disappointing seventh in the Group 3 Sebring Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on April 5 and has been given two barrier trials at Warwick Farm on July 11 and July 25 since joining the Waller stable.

Waller is eyeing races like the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 4 and the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 28 with and told TVN that he is concerned about getting Fastnet Rock up and running too early.

“It is still very early for horses of Bull Point’s capabilities and I don’t want to burn him out before the good races come around,” Waller said.

“At this stage I’d say he is unlikely to run on Saturday.

“We are just keeping our options open,

“The horse is very well and I’ve been pleased with his two trials.

“We just haven’t worked out yet whether we target the 1400m and go for the Rupert Clarke or if he is a miler and we look at the Epsom.”

Bull Point made his racing debut under the care of Gai Waterhouse with an impressive win at Royal Randwick in June last year before he finished second behind Eurozone in the Australian Turf Club Handicap (1200m).

The three-year-old stamped himself as a horse to watch with a three lengths victory in the Forum Group Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on July 20 and made his black type racing debut with a fourth place finish in the Listed The Rosebud (1200m) at Royal Randwick on August 10.

After finishing second behind Stamina at Rosehill Gardens on August 31, Bull Point was given a maiden opportunity at Group 1 level and stormed home late after losing contact with the rest of the field early to finish third behind Zoustar and Dissident.

Bull Point was sent to the spelling paddock following the Golden Rose Stakes and looked to be in store for a big autumn campaign after he took out the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 1.

The rising four-year-old was well-backed in the lead-up to the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m), but finished a disappointing fourth and failed to fire in both the Group 1 Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m) and the Sebring Stakes.

Bull Point is currently available at $13 in the 2014 Epsom Handicap betting market with Ladbrokes Australia.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.