Upset winner takes out 2YO Ottawa Stakes
THE Ottawa Stakes for two-year-olds loomed as a one-horse race at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, but it was an $18 chance which spoiled the party.
$1.60 favourite Madeenaty took most of the money in the opening event after winning stylishly on debut, but it stuck to the inside down the Flemington straight and the inside is clearly not the place to be.
Invincible Star, with champion jockey Joao Moreira in the saddle, had the outside field covered with ease and the Waterhouse/Bott-trained filly ran away with the 1000m sprint to open Melbourne Cup Day.
Moreira was able to lead the outside group of the split field and the daughter of I Am Invincible cleared away for an impressive debut victory.
“She was just too quick for everyone else in the race, she was lovely,” Moreira said. “She’s a talented filly, she does everything right.
“Gai has got her to start off, proves that Gai is one of the best trainers in town.
“I just finished off the team’s job, I’m very proud of it.”
Moreira is a highly-sought after jockey around the world, but he believes you just need a good horse to ride.
“There is no secret, you just need to gave a good horse underneath, I had a good one today.”
Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse will target the Magic Millions in January with the two=year-old which had no public trials and went under the punters radar at $18 with CrownBet.
“I knew I had my strongest hand today and I thought I had magic on my side,” Waterhouse said.
“She’s Magic Millions and you’ll see a clean pair of heels up there in about six weeks time.
“Wasn’t she beautiful, she muscle tone and everything.”
Odds-on favourite Madeenaty should be forgiven by punters for its third-place finish. It handled the inside field by multiple lengths, but the outside was clearly the place to be on the good 4 surface.
Sydney filly Lucky Louie ran on well for second which again showed the Sydney form is superior this spring carnival.
Waterhouse lines up Excess Knowledge in the Melbourne Cup and she showed her usual confidence in the $81 chance at Sportsbet.
“It’s 100/1 my husband marked him, pay no attention to Robbie, you back Excess Knowledge.”