Odds-on Winners, Odds-on Losers
April 5th 2011 11:47
words and photography by Neil Murray
Two recent Victorian provincial meetings each had odds-on favourites in the first two races on the programme. At Mornington on April 1, in the first race, leading trainer Peter Moody had a Redoute's Choice 3yo filly called Saint Angers. Saint Angers, ridden by leading jockey, Luke Nolen, went to the stalls a red-hot favourite at $1.28. Unfortunately for punters, Saint Angers went down to Awesome Hearted by just under half a length. In the second race, Moody and Nolen combined again on another Redoute's Choice filly called Blue Lotus. Blue Lotus went to the stalls an equally hot favourite at $1.24. Again the punters groaned while the bookies grinned. Blue Lotus went down to Rockfest by more than two lengths. Later in the day, the Moody-Nolen team was redeemed to some extent when their less fancied entry, Anklets, won at the more generous odds of $4.20.
At Pakenham on April 5, it was a very different story. In the first race, another leading trainer, Lee Freedman engaged senior jockey Noel Callow to ride the Fastnet Rock filly , She Likes To Rock. She Likes To Rock started at the extremely short odds of $1.22. But the odds were vindicated when Callow only needed to sit quietly to get She Likes To Rock home by over three lengths. In the second race, trainer Colin Little also engaged Noel Callow to ride the 3yo gelding, Demigod; yet another odds-on favourite at $1.65. This time, Noel Callow had to draw on more of that vigorous riding style of his to get Demigod to the line by a half length. So, unlike Mornington, after two races at Pakenham, the punters grinned while the bookies groaned.
Two recent Victorian provincial meetings each had odds-on favourites in the first two races on the programme. At Mornington on April 1, in the first race, leading trainer Peter Moody had a Redoute's Choice 3yo filly called Saint Angers. Saint Angers, ridden by leading jockey, Luke Nolen, went to the stalls a red-hot favourite at $1.28. Unfortunately for punters, Saint Angers went down to Awesome Hearted by just under half a length. In the second race, Moody and Nolen combined again on another Redoute's Choice filly called Blue Lotus. Blue Lotus went to the stalls an equally hot favourite at $1.24. Again the punters groaned while the bookies grinned. Blue Lotus went down to Rockfest by more than two lengths. Later in the day, the Moody-Nolen team was redeemed to some extent when their less fancied entry, Anklets, won at the more generous odds of $4.20.
Noel Callow coasting at the 100 metre mark on She Likes To Rock. Pakenham, 5 April
At Pakenham on April 5, it was a very different story. In the first race, another leading trainer, Lee Freedman engaged senior jockey Noel Callow to ride the Fastnet Rock filly , She Likes To Rock. She Likes To Rock started at the extremely short odds of $1.22. But the odds were vindicated when Callow only needed to sit quietly to get She Likes To Rock home by over three lengths. In the second race, trainer Colin Little also engaged Noel Callow to ride the 3yo gelding, Demigod; yet another odds-on favourite at $1.65. This time, Noel Callow had to draw on more of that vigorous riding style of his to get Demigod to the line by a half length. So, unlike Mornington, after two races at Pakenham, the punters grinned while the bookies groaned.
Noel Callow gets the most out of Demigod to hit the lead from second-placegetter, Dunked. Pakenham, 5 April
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