Long-odds runner wins big
Warwick trainer returns to action with stunning upset
‘‘ I WASN’T SURPRISED TO SEE HIM RACE LIKE THAT. LEO ROCHE
RACING: LEO Roche celebrated a winning return to the training ranks but punters had nothing to cheer about after Warwick four-year-old Colpo Di Tamburo pulled off one of Clifford Park’s biggest race upsets on Saturday.
Sent out as a 100-1 pop by bookies, Colpo Di Tamburo defied his telephone-number odds to down his fancied rivals in the Charlton Tyre Service Class 1 Handicap (1000m).
With the aid of a daring Shannon Apthorpe ride, the Drumbeats gelding burst through a gap inside the final 150m to edge out the solid-finishing Evamac ($20) by 3⁄4 length.
Tisani Magic ($3.70) ran an even race to be two lengths back third.
Race favourite Ardoyne Road ($2.15) dropped out to finish eighth and trainer Tony Sears will recommend retiring the filly who has failed to regain her best following recent throat surgery.
Roche is on the comeback to training after a two-year break with Colpo Di Tamburo his first runner to hit the track.
Despite Colpo Di Tamburo’s down-the-track performance previously at Dalby when resuming at his first start for the stable, Roche was not surprised by the bold performance.
“He’s a real good horse,” Roche said.
“I bought him at a ready-torun sale, and that’s his second start for me.
“I thought he should have won at Dalby and although it was a good field today, I wasn’t surprised to see him race like that.”
Colpo Di Tamburo is raced by Roche’s wife Joanne.
“I mix training with a bit of breeding, and I’ve only got two horses in work at the moment,” Roche said.
“This horse is my first starter back.”
A return to winning form by talented three-year-old Spirit’s Choice ($2.30 fav) put the seal on a good night for the Matt Kropp stable.
Okanagan Miss handed Kropp the first of two wins when she finished strongly for Skye Bogenhuber to down $1.75 favourite Mishani Rainman in the Supersprout Benchmark 85 Handicap (1100m).
Spirit’s Choice surged clear of her rivals on straightening for Rebecca Goldsbury to score a 3⁄4-length win in the Falken Tyres QTIS Three-Year-Old Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m).
“She’s a good filly and she would have been in town today if she hadn’t drawn 17,” Kropp said.
“But coming here tonight has turned out to be a good result with her, rather than wasting a run in town.
“They made her work, but she did it well.”
■ GATTON eight-year-old Baker Boy ($19) delivered Gatton trainer Brent Andrew a Brisbane feature success with an upset victory in Saturday’s Country Cups Challenge Race (1600m) at Doomben.
Baker Boy finished strongly to down Miles gelding Fab’s Cowboy ($26) by a half-length with Green Empire ($7) 3⁄4 length back third.
■ TOOWOOMBA mare Zouzoukakia made a timely return to winning form for the Kevin Kemp stable on Saturday to take out this year’s feature Cannonball Series Final (800m) at Kilcoy.
Zouzoukakia ($3.30 fav) scored a neck victory over Wudang Blade ($8) in the Benchmark 80 event for Toowoomba jockey Rebecca Williams.