Flippant causes upset in stunning return to form
FOUR-year-old mare Flippant hadn’t won for almost 11 months when lining up in Tuesday MSS Security Sprint, but it pulled off the upset in a stunning return to form.
Its last win came in the Magic Millions Stakes at Wyong on December 17, 2015 and that was enough reason for leading bookmaker Sportsbet to set its price at $29.10.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained runner finished 10th in the Alinghi Stakes last start, but it was very unlucky and it bounced back with an easy win down the Flemington straight, giving Blake Shinn his second win on Melbourne Cup Day.
“I drew a nice barrier to get a cart behind Faatinah who drew nine, I drew eight, I basically just followed it the whole way and when I was ready to let her extend, I came out at about the 450m and let her go through her gears,” Shinn said.
“She was really great today, she hadn’t had luck her past couple.
“Her form has been a bit mixed, but she hasn’t had much luck. Great to get her back in the winners circle.”
Shinn scored his second win for the day after winning aboard Jennifer Lynn in the Lexus Hybrid Plate.
“As I said before, this is the biggest days racing in Australia – Melbourne Cup Day and it’s very special to be able to win on my number one supporters that give me most of my rides, Peter and Paul Snowden, really great to ride a winner on such a big day,” Shinn added.
Co-trainer Paul Snowden was happy to see the four-year-old get back into the winning groove, but he will likely hold back and run it in the autumn.
“Good to see for the stable,” Snowden said. “God bless her heart, she stuck her head out in the air.
“We’re going to pull up and look forward to the autumn with her, look after her, there’s no good pushing one more.
“She’s bounced back, she can still mix it with some of the best fillies.”