Odds-on favourite Whobegotyou wins the 2011 Blamey Stakes
Prepared by local trainer Mark Kavanagh, Whobegotyou scored his first win at his home track of Flemington in the Blamey Stakes this afternoon.
A little slow away from his wide barrier draw, Whobegotyou and jockey Damien Oliver settled well back in the field letting Peter Moody’s Doubtful Jack take the lead and set a solid gallop.
The tempo was a little slow for Whobegotyou’s liking, but in the end the Cox Plate placegetter did the job he came here to do and scored a win for the punters.
Doubtful Jack held his lead up until the home turn before the likes of Dao Dao and Whobegotyou moved up to challenge.
The Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes-trained Dao Dao briefly hit the front before the favourite stormed up to surpass him.
A confident, measured ride from Oliver saw Whobegotyou lift and grab the equal lead with Dao Dao, brave in defeat, before pushing past him to win by a head on the line.
In a photo for third the Lee Freedman-trained roughie Fanjura finished off the placings while Roadtrain crossed for fourth.
Whobegotyou has now won nine of his 27 career starts, today’s win boosting his total earnings to over $3 million in prize money.
A trip to Sydney for the $2 million Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 16 is next-up for Whobegotyou who will then be spelled ahead of another shot at the $3 million Cox Plate (2040m) during the spring.
Betting on the 2011 Doncaster Mile has been briefly suspended, Whobegotyou sure to firm in the Luxbet markets following today’s win.
Get ready to back him in the Doncaster odds by opening your online account with Luxbet now and while you’re there check the odds on the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup running as races six and seven at Flemington this afternoon.
2011 Blamey Stakes Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | WHOBEGOTYOU(10) | Damien Oliver | Mark Kavanagh | 58.0 | 1-36.50 |
| 2nd | 5 | DAO DAO(2) | Dwayne Dunn | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 55.0 | 0.2L |
| 3rd | 4 | FANJURA(5) | Craig Williams | Lee Freedman | 56.0 | 2.2L |
| 4th | 10 | ROADTRAIN(9) | Dean Yendall | Tony Vasil | 51.0 | 2.3L |
| 5th | 2 | DOUBTFUL JACK(4) | Luke Nolen | Peter G Moody | 58.0 | 2.7L |
| 6th | 9 | I’M IMPOSING(6) | Nicholas Hall | Robert Hickmott | 54.0 | 2.8L |
| 7th | 8 | SPACECRAFT(7) | Craig Newitt | Mick Price | 54.0 | 2.9L |
| 8th | 3 | EXTRA ZERO(1) | Steven Arnold | David Hayes | 56.0 | 3.4L |
| 9th | 6 | ROCKPECKER(3) | Mark Zahra | Ken Fythe | 55.0 | 4.9L |
| 10th | 7 | WIND SHEAR(8) | Stephen Baster | Dale Sutton | 55.0 | 6.2L |
Photo courtesy (c) Taron Clarke Photography
