AFTER THE LAST

THE WIN

IT WAS left to stewards to give him the final nod but the protest victory of ROOSTER HUNTER spelt great news for trainer Barry Squair and jockey Beau Appo but was a savage blow for short-price punters looking to get out on the lucky last.

THE TRAINER

TRUE to script, new premier BEN CURRIE finished the meeting with three victories while STEVE TREGEA collected a Doomben-Clifford Park winning double compliments of Backslapper in town and Bergerac at home in the Class 1 Handicap.

THE RIDER

WHILE all eyes were on the Tomizawa-Appo duel, 2kg apprentice MICHAEL SCHRAPEL weighed in with a race-to-race double aboard Johnhro for Currie in the Benchmark 70 and the Tony Sears-trained Red Prince in the Class 2 Handicap.

FROM THE STAND

Race one: The connections were on track to back the winner Captain Leo and they took the $3.20 early. The phone money came at $2.90 with one bet of $2500 and the Currie Army started cheering at the home turn.

Race two: As soon as the prices went up they took the $6 about Rock ‘N’ Rhumba. The winner Bergerac looked good in the enclosure and the punters stepped into the $2.50 with cash on track and a phone bet of $3000 at $2.50. The bookies were on the ropes after Bergerac easy win. Race three: There was no money on track for Inde Roar or Velleity. The winner Mustarrid was backed pre post and the phones rang hot at $2.30, with one bet of $4000 at $2.50. There was cash on track at $2 for Mustarrid and the Currie Army put the bookies away.

Race four: The phones rang for the winner Johnhro with one phone bet of $3000 at $2.80. This win of Johnhro put the bookies well in the hole.

Race five: The phone money was on Spanish Fella each-way at $10. The punters on course were treated to $2.50 for the winner Red Prince. Race six: All the early money was on The Lawyer. The phone money was on Royal Myth and the bookies were on oxygen.

Race seven: The phone money was on Bouchard at $2. There was specking for the winner Rooster Hunter at $6. The bookies had to survive the protest and got a little back on the last.