The defeat of the odds-on favourite, Oliveanotherday, in the Bobbie Lewis Stakes at Flemington came as a blow to punters.
Sent out as the $1.60 favourite for the 1200m Group 2 sprint down the Flemington straight on Saturday, the Tom Dabernig-trained sprinter never appeared comfortable during its debut on the testing track.
Jockey Harry Coffey advised Dabernig that the sprinter did not perform to its usual capabilities, finishing fifth, just over a length behind the winner, Losesomewinmore.
Dabernig confirmed that the intention to push on to the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on September 26 remains a possibility despite the performance.
The support for Oliveanotherday was so significant that Losesomewinmore was the second favourite at $12.
Under the guidance of Craig Williams, Losesomewinmore held a position towards the inside of the track, winning by a long-neck from Hedged ($13), with Enxuto ($151) a further long-head back in third.
Losesomewinmore is prepared by the Adelaide-based father-and-daughter training team of Richard and Chantelle Jolly, who established a satellite base at Flemington last year.
Richard Jolly commented that the team at Flemington has benefited from reduced travel.
“In previous years we have been going back and forth with them,” Jolly said. “He’s based here and it makes life easier and we will get another run or two out of him than we would normally get.”
While an inside gate can sometimes be a disadvantage, Jolly explained post-race that Williams was content to maintain a position close to the fence.
“Craig said before the race that we had drawn in, so we might as well not look to be getting out,” Jolly said. “He thought the track was pretty even and we would be better to take those inside runs as there would be room there and it worked out brilliantly.”
Losesomewinmore has now recorded six wins down the Flemington straight, over distances from 1000m to 1200m.
Jolly indicated that the Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 3 is likely to be the sprinter’s next start.
“I don’t think there’s any reason to take him around a corner for the rest of the spring,” Jolly stated. “The Gilgai is coming up, there are some nice Moonee Valley races going to other tracks, so we’ll be mindful of where he’s going to be weighted the best.
“He got in really well today with the 53 (kilos) which obviously made a big difference.”
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