$790 AND $530 POPS STUN!
Turnbull Stakes day produced the goods as the Spring Carnival took centre stage at Flemington, and we got an instant throwback from the star of 2022!
Gold Trip closed out last year's carnival with a stirring Melbourne Cup victory as the top weight and he returned to headquarters with a stunning win in the Turnbull Stakes despite the $25.42 BSP!
Gold Trip was still last at the 600m before a withering burst saw him win easily! Life Lessons, Star Patrol, Stretan Angel and Zardozi also win impressively in features.
Future History also won his way into this year's Melbourne Cup with victory in the Bart Cummings.
At Rosehill it was King's Gambit who upset the highly fancied Ozmossis to claim the Roman Consul whilst Montefilia returned emphatically to win the Petaluma Hill Stakes.
We had some remarkable in-play prices pop up around the country in a forecast of what's to come over the next six weeks of racing at its best.
BEST BACKED WINNERS
Bodyguard was backed heavily in the lead up to Race 2, and by the time they jumped he held nearly 60% of bets from the over $527,000 matched on the race.
The best two backed runners at Flemington actually came up in the last two races of the day.
Star Patrol's win in the Gilgai was a popular one with punters with the runner carrying nearly 65% of the $882,000 matched on the race.
The win was impressive, as was that of the aptly named Tamerlane in the final event, the Paris Lane.
Tamerlane was a big firmer and jumped with roughly 70% of a very strong pot.
FIRMERS AND DRIFTERS
As mentioned previously Bodyguard (pictured below) was a well backed runner ahead of Race Two at Flemington.
He shortened from $5.70 into $3.50 in the final 15 minutes of betting.
Blue Illusion was a significant drift in the same race, easing from $2.18 out t0 $3.25 before losing.
Interestingly Bella Anderson backed Bodyguard after the parade and laid Blue Illusion at the same time. Punters were indeed listening!
At Rosehill they jumped off Pierossa at the wrong time!
The runner had firmed from $3.45 into $2.52 ahead of Race Three, before drifting back to $3.35! He would go on and win the race.
Icebreaker was a huge firm at Kembla Grange but to no avail, shortening from $6.60 to $3.30 without winning.
Race Five was the same at the Grange with Taipan Legend shortening from $5 into $2.80 before running second.
Two successful firms came late in the day with Magic Time shortening from $3.25 to $2.14 before winning the penultimate at Rosehill, whilst the previously mentioned Tamerlane was backed from $3.05 into $2.08 before claiming the last at Flemington.
IN-PLAY LONGSHOTS AND BAD BEATS
Two extraordinary results just 15-minutes apart highlighted the in-play drama across the country.
In Race Four at Eagle Farm, Champagne Bender opened at $6.40 before finding himself in significant bother. His price ballooned out to a remarkable $790 in the run before he turned the tables and saluted.
Shortly after at Murray Bridge it was Jaywick's turn.
The runner opened at $247 (average corporate price was $155).
This would drift out to $530 in the run before he too got the chocolates!
On BSP alone you'd be $920 better off for a $10 outlay.
At the other end of the scale I Am Unstoppable looked exactly that in the Danehill.
The favourite (pictured) who opened at $3.64 got as short as $1.01 in play before getting shaded on the line by Stretan Angel.
Similar happened on Friday night at Morphettville with nearly $600 matched on Delightful Shecky at $1.02!
Didn't get the result though!
PRICE ADVANTAGE
The day started strongly at Flemington with Electric Impulse's win at $15.50 producing a 21.1% advantage.
Riff Rocket was 29.2% better in Race Three with Life Lessons (18.7%) and Tamerlane (14%) other highlights.
At Rosehill, Felix Majestic was 23.2% better on the Exchange, Stanislaus was 16.5% in Race Four, King's Gambit was also 16.5% in Race Five, Makarena was 24.3% in Race Six, and Super Helpful brought it home with 18.8% in the last!
