A ground-saving ride by Lisa Cropp helped rising nine-year-old Dr Nipandtuck cause an upset in the Winter Championship Series Heat 6 at Flemington.
Sent out at $31, Dr Nipandtuck settled back in 10th place on the inside of the 14 runners and Cropp didn’t go around a horse as rival jockeys travelled well away from the inside rail on the dead (4) track.
The veteran galloper, having his 65th start, went on to score by 1-1/4 lengths from Jeuneyman ($18) with Rocky Times ($8) the same margin away third.
Wangaratta trainer James Fraser races Dr Nipandtuck with a group of eight long-time owners and old mates.
“We had some big offers for this horse as a young horse but I didn’t want to sell him,” Fraser said.
“I really thought he could win Group races for us, he’s Group One-placed.”
Dr Nipandtuck ran third to Gold Edition and Vormista in the 2007 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
Fraser said the good barrier, four, was instrumental in Saturday’s win after he jumped from gate 14 at his past three outings.
Dr Nipandtuck took his record to 11 wins and 17 placings for $780,000 in prizemoney.
“He won his first race at Wodonga (in June 2005) and as a three-year-old he won four metropolitan Vobis races,” Fraser said.
“He’s been a tremendous horse.”
The gelding will be out to equal his career-best win in the 2007 Listed Sandown Six (1200m) when he runs in the Listed $200,000 Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on July 9.
Cropp said Dr Nipandtuck had a super run.
“He knew he was going to win and halfway in he just shot away and put it beyond doubt,” she said.
“Those old horses, they can see the winning post and they lift themselves and he certainly did today.”
Meanwhile, tough mare Swooper earned a shot at the $150,000 Banjo Paterson (2600m) at Flemington on July 9 with a win in heat 5 of the stayers series over 2540m.
Swooper ($5.50) was ridden patiently by Brian Park who settled her back 10th of the 12 runners in a truly-run race before she made a long run to score by 3-1/2 lengths from Davcon ($13) with Risk It All ($5) five lengths away third.
“It was a relief for me because she’s been knocking on the door but getting back too far in her races,” trainer Daryl Dodson, who prepares his team at Telopea Downs on the Victoria-South Australia border, said.
“She finished beautifully today.”
AAP TURF
