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Promises Kept chases Ballarat Cup

South Australian raider Promises Kept is chasing Ballarat Cup honours.

Promises Kept
Promises Kept Picture: Racing Photos

Trainer Michael Hickmott is hopeful the owners of recent stable addition Promises Kept will have some fun in coming weeks. 

Promises Kept makes the trip across from South Australia to run in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) on Saturday with the potential of back-up the following week in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m). 

A member firstly of the Greg Eurell stable and then Ciaron Maher Promises Kept has been in Hickmott's care for just two starts. 

Promises Kept finished sixth first-up in the Listed Murray Bridge Cup (1600m) in October then was fifth behind Air Assault, an opponent on Saturday, in the Listed John Letts Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville on November 4. 

"He was always going to need the run first-up," Hickmott said. 

"I thought his first-up run was a pass mark then his next run was clearly dominated by on-pacers. 

"His sectionals, right up until the 200-metre mark, were everything as good as anything in the race, but he flattened out in the last furlong. 

"Up to the 2000 metres suits better and we're looking at running him in this and then back-up into the Pakenham Cup with him." 

Last campaign when under the care of Maher, Promises Kept scored over 2200m at Hobart before running successive placings in the Hobart and Launceston Cups, both at 2400m. 

Promises Kept was then stepped up to the 3200m of the Adelaide Cup but finished last. 

Hickmott said he had not looked past next week's Pakenham Cup with Promises Kept. 

"He's a lovely old horse that is in the zone, he's sound, moving good, he looks fantastic and his work has been good, but it is a very good race on Saturday," Hickmott said. 

Hickmott is also sending Party Crasher to Ballarat for the Hertz Handicap (2000m), a benchmark 84 contest. 

Party Crasher was last seen winning over 2000m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day. 

"He's a progressive horse and comes into this race as the most inexperienced horse in the race, but he's on the way up," Hickmott said. 

"He did a fantastic job at Flemington, and I was really proud of the horse. 

"He's continued to thrive since and I expect him to be really competitive in what is a strong race." 


Racing and Sports

Ballarat

Saturday, 06th December 2025

9
ET

Sportsbet Ballarat Cup (LR)

WT: 119lbs Type: OPEN
1 ¼ m TURF SOFT
9

(local)
AUD $500,000
1 ¼ m SOFT

Sportsbet Ballarat Cup (LR)

WT: 119lbs Type: OPEN


FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 4. BERKELEY SQUARE (AUS) 6yo G
TERRITORIES (IRE) - BAHAMAS (AUS)
LUKE NOLEN
DAN O'SULLIVAN
$9
58kg
D G Peacock, Mrs P M Loxton, Mrs K D Appleton, V A Lianos, Ms L Yialas, T J Sullivan, C A Sargent, Dr M J Edwards, D L Field, Dr R L De Ross, J M Sullivan, Mrs F J Sullivan, Mrs H M Butler, M C Butler, R J Butler, S M Frederick, P J Francis, B A Keys, Mrs J F Keys & Terrace No 3 (Mgr: Dr W Marmion)
2nd 13. CADMUS (IRE) 6yo G
GLENEAGLES (IRE) - ALLEGREZZA (GB)
PATRICK MOLONEY
ANTHONY & SAM FREEDMAN
$71
54kg
Anthony Freedman Racing, Murray Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd, Stallion Match, A J Harrison, D Smorgon, K Harrison, Peake Racing, F J Spillane, Mrs K G Spillane, A Tomas, G D Peer, B Gately, N J Todd, M McKelvie, Mrs C E Mckelvie, M A Herskope, A W Bruhn, Dr D W Weissman & Dr N Serry

Sales Information

3rd 9. STATUARIO (AUS) 4yo G
D'ARGENTO (AUS) - MISS ENTICE (AUS)
LACHLAN NEINDORF
EMMA-LEE & DAVID BROWNE
$14
54kg
Toward Reward Thoroughbreds, Sparta Racing Mrs N C Jensen, Ms J E Taylor, B L Hannon, D J Casey, G Wallace, J M Jackson, M S Tidecz, The Five Kingsmen, Buckets and Teddy, G R Hunt, S Drakos, P Stanley, S Diener, Grubby Seagull Racing, M Randall, M J Randall, H McGregor, TR Miss Entice & T Chan

Sales Information

4th 2. KINGSWOOD (GB) 5yo H
ROARING LION (USA) - ALL AT SEA (GB)
JOHN ALLEN
GAVIN BEDGGOOD
$4.6
59kg

Sales Information

5th 5. DETONATOR JACK (NZ) 7yo G
JAKKALBERRY (IRE) - RED DELICIOUS (NZ)
DECLAN BATES
CIARON MAHER
$11
58kg

Sales Information

6th 6. SAINT GEORGE (GB) 5yo G
ROARING LION (USA) - LADY DRAGON (IRE)
CRAIG WILLIAMS
CIARON MAHER
$3.9
56kg

Sales Information

7th 11. FIRM AGREEMENT (AUS) 4yo G
YES YES YES (AUS) - MONEY MAGIC (AUS)
RYAN HOUSTON
ANNABEL & ROB ARCHIBALD
$31
54kg

Sales Information

8th 3. AIR ASSAULT (AUS) 5yo G
JUSTIFY (USA) - ELEGANT EAGLE (NZ)
JASON HOLDER
ANDREW GLUYAS
$8
58kg

Sales Information

9th 14. OCEAN BEYOND (NZ) 8yo G
OCEAN PARK (NZ) - FRANKLY (NZ)
LUKE CURRIE
SIMON RYAN
$31
54kg

Sales Information

10th 7. POISON CHALICE (NZ) 6yo G
SAVABEEL (AUS) - URBAN (NZ)
DAMIAN LANE
PAUL PREUSKER
$11
54.5kg

Sales Information

11th 1. CASINO SEVENTEEN (AUS) 8yo G
CASINO PRINCE (AUS) - TIKAL (AUS)
HARRY COFFEY
GAVIN BEDGGOOD
$15
59.5kg

Sales Information

12th 15. GHETTO SUPASTAR (AUS) 6yo G
STREET BOSS (USA) - MY OPTION (AUS)
TEO NUGENT
MICK SHEPHERDSON
$71
54kg

Sales Information

13th 12. PROMISES KEPT (AUS) 6yo G
CLUSTER (AUS) - MORE THAN PROMISED (USA)
BEAU MERTENS
MICHAEL HICKMOTT
$31
54kg

Sales Information

14th 10. SHAIYHAR (IRE) 6yo G
CAMELOT (GB) - SHARLIYNA (IRE)
DEAN YENDALL
TRENT BUSUTTIN & NATALIE YOUNG
$19
54kg

Sales Information