The return to a dry track gave Toowoomba galloper Emphasis a second win in the Cascade Quality and another crack at the Magic Millions Stayers Cup on Saturday.
Emphasis won last year’s Cascade Quality and then went on to run third in the Shoot Out Quality just failing to make the field for the $1 million Magic Millions Stayers Cup (2200m) on January 13.
Premier jockey Jeff Lloyd scored his first since a holiday when Emphasis ($5) beat a brave Rudy ($9.50) by a neck with Sydney stayer Long Time Ago ($1.80) 2-3/4 lengths back in third.
Trainer Richie Stephenson got Emphasis for just $10,000 at a Darley dispersal sale and the gelding has now won $310,000 in prize money.
“He isn’t a Magic Millions horse so we have to get into the Millions Cup through the Shoot Out. He just missed out last year when the track was wet for the Shoot Out,” Stephenson said.
“But as you saw today he loves Doomben and likes dry tracks as it was today. Jeff Lloyd won this race last year on him and I’ll chase him to ride Emphasis again.”
Credit: AAP