Balzen packs a Punch in Guineas

GOLD Coast trainer Peter Balzen enjoyed one of his greatest moments in racing when talented filly Punch On scored a home town victory in today’s $1m Gold Coast Magic Millions Guineas (1400m).
 Ridden by Paul Hammersley, Punch On ($9) ran home from midfield on the turn to down Easy Running ($7) by a nose with 1-1/4 lengths to Happy Hussy ($6) in third.
Balzen, who moved to the Gold Coast from Sydney 13 years ago, races the filly with long-time friends Jeff Grover, Tom Ware and Bev White.
“It’s great to win a race like this with owners you’ve been with for such a long time,’’ said Balzen. “It makes today’s win more satisfying. I’ve won Group race before, but in terms of prizemoney, today’s race is our biggest win’’
Balzen bought Punch On for $16,000 at the 2010 sales becaue he had trained her older half-brother Punch Up. They are both out of the Geiger Counter mare School Blue.
“Punch Up was by Sunday Knight, this filly is by Tiger Hill,’’ said Balzen. “Punch Up cost $10,000 and won about $200,000 so I was happy to get Punch On for $16,000.
Balzen decided to set Punch On for today’s Guineas after she ran a cracking race in a $250,000 QTIS race at the Gold Coast last March.
“She ran third in that QTIS race and probably should have won and I thought then she was a filly with promise who could be up to a race like this.
“And after she won the Vo Rogue Plate at Doomben the other day, I knew we were right in this race.
“Paul (Hammersley) has been riding her well this campaign and did a great job on her again today.’’
Punch On has now won three of her 12 starts, with today’s bonanza boosting her career earnings to just over $800,000.
Punch On is likely to have a break now with Balzen eyeing off a winter carnival campaign.
“The Queensland Guineas is now a 1400m race and I think that race would suit her down to the ground,’’ he said.
Story: Neil Archer
Photo: Trackside Photography Pty Ltd