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Trainer Peter Moody described the upset win of Reward For Effort as mind-blowing after the colt raced away with the A$1 million Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Moody and Dean Watt of Dynamic Syndications paid A$190,000 for the colt by Exceed And Excel from Rory's
Jester mare Miss Prospect at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
"It's mind-blowing actually. Realistically, we went into it open minded," Moody said.
"We thought we could beat the fillies but we thought Real Saga had the wood on us, but we've improved a little bit and he has obviously lost a little bit.
"Luke [jockey Luke Nolen] took up the initiative. We thought we'd put the pressure on.
"The horse had improved. We doubted he'd improved enough but we're happy to be wrong."
Reward For Effort's victory was a triumph for Victorian breeder David Moodie, whose Contract Racing bred him.
Moody who hails from Charleville in Queensland and won the Victoria Derby with Amalfi in 2001, said it was a great day for the outback town as jockey Ken Pope, who grew up with him, landed his first group one win on Swiss Ace in the Oakleigh Plate.
Nolen had Reward For Effort ($16) travelling third behind Corsaire and rank outsider Perikon until he burst clear in the straight. Real Saga ($3.20), who settled 11th of the 13 runners, looked too far back to win coming to the home turn but he stormed home to finish 1 lengths from the winner.
Dwayne Dunn, trying to maintain his unbeaten record in the race after four successive wins over the past four years, was again in the finish on the filly Maka Ena ($21) who came from 10th to be 2 lengths away third.
"He gave a good kick and knows where the post is," said Nolen.
Quick Blush ($41) was fourth with the $2.70 favourite Rostova finishing fifth after having a good run in sixth place throughout.
"She had every chance but just wasn't good enough on the day," trainer Steve Richards said of Rostova.
"We've had a good run with her but we'll put her out now and bring her back for the spring."
Jockey Steven King said the filly was simply disappointing.
Damien Oliver said Reward For Effort got too big a break on Real Saga on the home turn.
"He hit a flat spot on the turn, he finished off amazing," he said.
Dunn said the wide draw (barrier 12) did not help Maka Ena.
Earlier on the programme, Queenslander Swiss Ace gave Caloundra jockey Ken Pope the racing day of his life with an upset win the Oakleigh Plate.
After being headed by Lucky Secret halfway up the straight the Secret Savings entire, who cost just A$6000, rallied under Pope's vigorous riding to pocket A$240,000 for his connections
Swiss Ace could finish only seventh in the Lightning Stakes at Flemington at his previous start but speared across from the outside barrier in the field of 18 to give Pope his first group one win.
Trained on the Sunshine Coast by Mick Mair, Swiss Ace ($31) beat Lucky Secret ($12) by a short head while Typhoon Zed ($15) was only a long neck away third.
The first three drew the outside three barriers, with Lucky Secret in 16 and Typhoon in 17, debunking the theory that inside barriers are an advantage in the Oakleigh Plate.
Pope said his plan was to save Swiss Ace for a last burst at the finish line and it came off as Lucky Secret just failed to sustain his effort.
"This is the most fantastic feeling I have had in racing," said 38-year-old Pope, who started his career in outback Charleville before moving to Chinchilla and later Toowoomba where he won the jockeys' premiership.
For the past 10 years he has been the stable rider for Mair who has been training for more than 40 years.
Pope's previous biggest win was the group two Sir Byrne Hart (1200m) on Swiss Ace in April last year.
"I don't chase fame or the big dollars," Pope said.
Owner Darryl Rogers waited all day at a Brisbane bloodstock sale to buy Swiss Ace for and he has now won 10 of his 15 starts and more than A$650,000.
"I thought he would be dearer than he was as he comes from one of the best broodmare families in the world and he showed it today," Rogers said.
Swiss Ace's dam Rapid Serve, by Carson City, and his grand-dam Tennis Partner, by Northern Dancer, were both unraced but the family is saturated with black type.
International Group One winners include Newmarket Middle Park Stakes winner Formidable, Dewhurst Stakes and July Cup winner Ajdal and Oaklawn Fantasy Stakes winner Flying Partner.
Danny Brereton thought Lucky Secret would win at the 100 metres but Swiss Ace was too good on the day.
Favourite Scenic Blast ($4.80) got caught in traffic while 3-year-old Wilander was a fading seventh and will now be spelled.
- AAP
