Just when punters had thought Sheza Alibi’s Makybe Diva Stakes win had got things back on track after Oliveanotherday’s defeat in the Bobbie Lewis Quality, Pondalowie stepped up with the shock of the day in the Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m).
The Deep Field six-year-old, who is trained by David and Emma-Lee Browne at Pakenham, posted the first Group 2 win of her career when she stormed over the top of her rivals in the 1400m event as a $51 chance.
It was the fourth win of a 22-start career that has been plagued by bad luck, but winning jockey Lachlan Neindorf said this time, unlike the others, he almost went in search of it.
“I spoke to my form man – he’s a genius and massive shout out to him, James. Jordan – and he said, ‘I’m so convinced with this horse you need to ride it almost for bad luck’,” Neindorf said.
“I found a lot of bad luck. She was in what seemed like an unwinnable position at the 200, but that’s when she really let really lets and she let rip today and she got over top.”
Podalowie got home by a short-half-head from another roughie, $21 chance Too Darn Discreet, with On Display ($6) – who was hailed the winner when well clear at the 150m – a half-back third in a race in which $2.10 favourite Gold Coast Belle finishing a disappointing seventh.
