Extra Zero defies age and odds in winning 100th start

Extra Zero
10-year-old Extra Zero defied its age when winning the Archer Hall Of Fame Trophy at its 100th start. Photo: Racing.com

THE feel-good story of Saturday was Extra Zero’s win in the Archer Hall Of Fame Trophy at Flemington – the 10-year-old winning at its 100th start.

Age, form and odds have never been a deterrent for the Lindsay Park-trained gelding which showed a turn-of-foot not typically seen by an older horse.

Punters wanted nothing to do with the son of Danzero which had won only six of its 99 starts prior, but punters that secured the $31 available at Sportsbet.com.au were cheering the old boy on.

Stable representative Mark Pilkington was over the moon with the result and stated the plan all along was for Extra Zero to run its 100th race at Flemington on May 20.

“He’s been great, really been fantastic,” Pilkington said. “The guys have had a great run with him.

“Planned his 100th run for today a couple of months ago, hoping on getting him back to the 2000m at Flemington where he runs so well.

“They’re generally a big price for a reason. Still a bit surprised, but we’re chuffed.”

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Despite having won only seven races, Pilkington stated that Extra Zero has been close in the past and it’s a credit to Lindsay Park for keeping the 10-year-old in top fitness.

“He’s been very close. It’s a great testament to all the facilities at Lindsay Park to keep a horse like him sound for so long,” Pilkington said.

Pilkington wasn’t sure if Extra Zero would sign off from racing on a winning note, but a big party is in store.

“He’s special to us, we’ll have a great party tonight and think about it,” he added.

Winning jockey Jake Bayliss looked the have plenty of power beneath him throughout, but he thinks race move from its opposition might have given him an early indication of its mindset.

“We cantered past the winning post the first time and I had a couple of horses bowling past me,” Bayliss said. “He leaped in the air about two metres and took off with them and I thought, ‘he’s not done yet this horse.'”

Bayliss tracked the speed coming into the straight before finding the gap at the right time and Extra Zero pounced quickly to score the impressive victory.

“I said to the owners the two horses I wanted to get on the back of was Observational and Haradafull, and they were there right in front of me,” Bayliss described.

“They struck a bit of trouble and I had to duck back to the inside which was a blessing in the end and I was able to pick my way through from there.

“He took runs like a little gun.”

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