Horse Racing

The Hawks-trained outsider in Saturday’s $125,000 Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m), Rainbow Styling threw a spanner in the works for the Caulfield Cup contenders claiming an upset win in the Caulfield feature.

Six-year-old Zabeel gelding Rainbow Styling was one of the few starters in the 2010 Naturalism Stakes not nominated for the 2010 Caulfield Cup or needing the ballot exemption from the race that a win in the Naturalism earned.

Rainbow Styling ($14) pulled out a startling late run to take the lead at the 50m mark and hold off a fast finish by the Tony Vasil-trained Valdemoro ($13) and win by a neck with the $2.70 favourite Moudre a further head away in third.

Previous favourite to win the Caulfield Cup on October 16, Moudre must now qualify for a run in the $2.5 million showdown via another race.

Despite missing out on the ballot exemption, Moudre was super impressive coming from 12 lengths back to finish third in the Naturalism.

Moudre has now drifted out to $11 second favourite for the 2010 Caulfield Cup, with Saturday’s Underwood Stakes runner-up Dariana firming into the $7 top elect at Sportsbet.

Naturalism Stakes runner-up Valdemoro has also shortened in the Caulfield Cup markets, now equal third favourite with Herculian Prince at $13.

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2010 Naturalism Stakes Results