Queensland galloper Rothera has claimed a devastatingly close victory in the sixth race at Caulfield Cup Day, beating home a field of top gallopers in the $125,000 Group 3 Betfair Stakes (1400m).
Five-year-old gelding Rothera, trained by 19-year-old Ben Currie in Oakey Queensland, went out as a $7.50 chance to win the 2010 Betfair Stakes.
It was a massive effort by Rothera after being quite heavily weighted against the Group 1 winners and still able to knuckle down and win in a blanket finish.
Jungle Ruler was first out of the gates with Gathering and Trader also getting away fast, Jungle Ruler taking the early lead and setting the pace.
The big market mover backed into the $5 favourite, Gathering started to get to the outside on the turn for home, but it was Rothera who raced on hard to take to the front.
In a sensational display from Sniper’s Bullet, the seven-year-old moved up through the middle of the field with blistering speed to come nose-to-nose with Rothera.
Over the final metres the two fought it out and in a photo-finish result it was Rothera who was home first by the narrowest of margins, nosing out Snipers Bullet.
Jungle Ruler was able to hang on for third.
Originally eyeing off the Epsom Handicap before being struck down by a virus, Rothera showed they were fit and in-form again with Currie now targeting the Emirates Stakes at Flemington on November 6.
Today’s victory was the 10th from 23 career starts for Rothera.
Get ready to put down your wagers on the next feature race today, with Race 7 the $125,000 Group 3 David Jones Cup (2000m) set to jump at 3:20pm (AEDST).
Consistent mare Purple is the current $2.80 favourite and our top pick so head to [sportsbet] now to back her before the odds shorten!
2010 Betfair Stakes Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 12 | ROTHERA(3) | Brent Evans | Ben Currie | 55.5 | 1-25.86 |
| 2nd | 1 | SNIPER’S BULLET(9) | Nash Rawiller | Robert Smerdon | 58.5 | 0.1L |
| 3rd | 5 | JUNGLE RULER(2) | Darren Gauci | Peter White | 56.5 | 1.4L |
| 4th | 8 | DEMERIT(6) | Mark Zahra | Peter Snowden | 56.5 | 3.6L |
| 5th | 6 | GATHERING(4) | Craig Newitt | John P Thompson | 56.5 | 3.7L |
| 6th | 4 | MCCLINTOCK(12) | Glyn Schofield | Mark de Montfort | 57.5 | 5.2L |
| 7th | 14 | RANSOM WILLY(5) | Mark Pegus | Terry Kelly | 55.0 | 5.6L |
| 8th | 7 | AL DHAFRA(1) | Blake Shinn | Guy Walter | 56.5 | 6.0L |
| 9th | 11 | WOORIM(8) | Danny Nikolic | Robert Heathcote | 55.5 | 7.3L |
| 10th | 13 | MAJESTICAL(10) | Craig Williams | Matthew Enright | 55.0 | 10.5L |
| 11th | 9 | TRADER(7) | Michael Walker | Anthony Cummings | 56.5 | 17.5L |
| 12th | 2 | ALL SILENT(11) | Dwayne Dunn | Grahame Begg | 57.5 | 37.5L |
| Src | 3 | ALBERT THE FAT | Steven Arnold | Paul Messara | ||
| Src | 10 | DAO DAO | Michael Rodd | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
