Rising 8YO and stable star Big Day Out landed the ninth win of his glittering career at Seymour on Tuesday, prevailing in the 1000m Benchmark 64 Handicap. 

Ridden by Jake Duffy, who notched his 71st win for the stable in the process, the Delago Deluxe gelding was raced quietly at the back of the field before the $17 outsider unleashed a well-timed run for a thrilling victory. 

A 74-start veteran who’s also finished with another 27 minor placings since debuting as a talented 2YO at Wagga on Australia Day, 2020, Big Day Out has earned connections over $310,000 in prize money.

A shrewd $2,500 purchase, it’s no wonder the ever-consistent gelding is a stable favourite. 

“He would be very close to my favourite horse,” Weeding said.

“He was one of the very first horses I trained. We bought him for $2,500 as a weanling, broke him in, and did all the work.

“He was my first 2YO winner, my first winner at Flemington and only winner at Flemington, and he just makes me look good because he turns up every time he goes to the races and has a real crack.”

Big Day Out and Jake Duffy combined for their first win in February 2020, triumphing in the 1200m Maiden Plate at Wagga. 

In total, they’ve combined seven times, winning the Tumut Sprint in 2023 and back-to-back Leeton Stan Axtill Memorial races in 2022 and 2023.

“I’ve had a fair bit to do with this horse since the start of his career, and I know him like the back of my hand,” Duffy said. 

“He is a horse that, if he is covered up and ridden for the last crack at them, he can let go like that, especially back in this type of grade.”

The Weeding Racing stable has a good crop of proven gallopers, including Prince Of Helena, Who Dares, Controversial Miss, Yam, and Ashau Valley, and rising stars Make It Sweet, Maid In Dubai, Recon, and Love From Venus.

Duffy was excited to be affiliated with the growing stable and good horses such as Big Day Out.

“He’s been a good little horse to me and has always been consistent, running around the first four. He’s been a good horse for Craig, and you could say he is a stable star,” Duffy said. 

“Craig came down four or five years ago, and we created a bit of an affiliation, and he’s been a massive supporter of mine and put me on the right horses and given me opportunities on horses that other trainers probably wouldn’t.

“I’ve shown with that support, especially this season, that once you can get a roll on, get on better horses, it’s easy to get winners.”

It’s been a successful period for Weeding Racing, which also landed a double at Benalla on Monday. 

Duffy was in the saddle as Paparazzo won the 1106m Maiden Plate, and apprentice Luke Cartwright guided Ashau Valley to a tough victory in the 2100m Benchmark 58 Handicap. 

Weeding has trained 40 winners in season 2024/25, while Duffy is on track for his best-ever season in the saddle, with 50 winners at a strike rate of 14%.

Words & Image: Jeff Hanson