Promising galloper Savvy Spy showcased a powerful closing sprint to race clear of his rivals in the Ranvet Handicap over 2400 metres.
However, as jockey Tim Clark was returning the four-year-old gelding to the mounting yard, the horse unexpectedly performed a side-step, catching the jockey by surprise and leaving him on the ground near the winning post.
The fall was harmless, with Clark suffering no injuries other than a bruised ego.
“I was posing for the photo or something, I wasn’t expecting that,” Clark said after the race when interviewed by Sky Thoroughbred Central’s Corey Brown.
Clark, while attempting to make light of the incident, was eager to praise Savvy Spy for his impressive win.
Savvy Spy ($2.30 favourite), prepared by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, unleashed a strong sprint to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths from Saint Emilion ($9). Mr Fabulous ($21) finished third, a further length and a half behind.
“He is going about things the right way,” Clark commented.
“He settled even better today, he really went to sleep for me and when he can do that, then he can show his really good turn of foot. In these staying races, a turn of foot will take you a long way. I think he is going to keep getting better with each preparation.”
Neil Paine, a representative from the Tulloch Lodge stable, noted that Savvy Spy differs from the typical profile of a Waterhouse and Bott-trained horse.
“He is not like one of Gai and Adrian’s horses as he usually gets back in his races,” Paine said.
“We found the key to him. When we were riding him on the pace, he wasn’t finding the line. Since we starting to ride him ‘quiet’ he is finding the line and showing good acceleration late in his races.”
In the Singapore Pools Handicap (1400m), trainer Nacim Dilmi gave jockey Tommy Berry a perfect score for his winning ride on Probability Theory.
Berry made a decisive move early, with Probability Theory jumping from the outside barrier (8), crossing the field to find the fence and settling third behind the leader, Rose Aye.
From this advantageous position, Berry maintained control and allowed Probability Theory ($11) to slide around the leader before running down Rose Aye ($8.50) to win by three-quarters of a length. Wootton Lass ($16) was third, two lengths adrift.
“What a ride by Tommy,” Dilmi exclaimed.
“He rode the mare perfectly and got the job done, it was a 10/10 ride. She’s a nice mare building a good record (five wins from nine starts) and I will just look to keep taking her through the grades.”
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