A fast finishing Lone Rock has upstaged Bel Sprinter in the Group 3 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington today.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Coming into the race undefeated Bel Sprinter looked to have the race sewn up over the concluding staged until the Robert Smerdon-trained Lone Rock Flew down the outside to beat Bel Sprinter in the last stride, with Danzylum in third.
Bel Sprinter who is known to overrace once again was a bit keen throughout the run but had them all at his mercy when taking the lead from Phelan Ready and Dubleanny.
Lone Rock, winner of the Goodwood left her run until the last possible moment when peeling off the pack to bolt home and grab Bel Sprinter on the line with a blanket finish covering the rest.
“I just wanted to ride her really quiet and have a really strong last two furlongs,” said jockey Mark Zahra.
“On the way to the gates she gave me a great feel she was switched on and jumped and just sat and sat and she was just to strong.”
“She is a Group 1 winner and on her day she goes really good so I suppose it surprised me a little bit but she could be in for a big spring.”
There looks to be plenty of options now for the four-year-old mare which will give Smerdon plenty to ponder of the next fortnight.
“The option was a race at Caufield in two weeks' time that wasn't lofty or anything but now that she has come out and done that you have to think more than that but we will just leave that to Robert,”
said Aquanita Racing representative Henry Dwyer.Lone Rock paid $29.90 for the win with Danzylum from the Robbie Griffiths stable paying an astonishing $42.60 for third.
Former Golden Slipper winner Phelan Ready managed to hang on for fourth.
