Emerging galloper Savvy Spy showcased a potent finishing sprint to easily account for his rivals in the Ranvet Handicap over 2400 metres.
However, as jockey Tim Clark guided the rapidly improving four-year-old gelding back towards the winner’s circle, the horse unexpectedly veered sideways, startling the rider and causing him to fall near the finish line.
The incident, thankfully, was without consequence, with Clark emerging with only his pride dented.
“I was posing for the photo or something, I wasn’t expecting that,” Clark stated when speaking with Corey Brown of Sky Thoroughbred Central post-race.
While Clark was keen to downplay the mishap, his primary focus was on praising Savvy Spy following his commanding victory.
Savvy Spy, the $2.30 favourite and prepared by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, surged clear in the closing stages to win by a comfortable one-and-a-quarter lengths. Saint Emilion ($9) secured second place, with Mr Fabulous ($21) finishing a further length and a half behind in third.
“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, representing the Tulloch Lodge stable, remarked that Savvy Spy deviates 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 explained.
“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 a separate race, trainer Nacim Dilmi awarded top jockey Tommy Berry a perfect 10/10 for his ride aboard Probability Theory in the Singapore Pools Handicap (1400m).
Berry executed a brilliant tactical manoeuvre early, with Probability Theory launching from the widest barrier (8), crossing the field, securing the fence, and then settling behind the leader, Rose Aye.
From that position, Berry maintained control, allowing Probability Theory ($11) to glide around the leader before powering past Rose Aye ($8.50) to win by three-quarters of a length. Wootton Lass ($16) finished a distant third, two lengths further back.
“What a ride by Tommy,” Dilmi enthused.
“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.”
For those interested in backing today’s winners, check out the latest Australian betting sites to see the racing odds.
