Anthony Cummings trained Smart Missile has upset the long odds on favourite Sepoy in the Todman Stakes today at Rosehill with Sepoy running second and Foxwedge running third.
Long-time Golden Slipper favourite Sepoy has had his colours lowered for the first time in a shock result to the Todman Stakes at Rosehill.
Smart Missile beats odds on favourite Sepoy to win the 2011 Todman Stakes at Rosehill racecourse - Photo by Steve Hart
The Anthony Cummings-trained Smart Missile ($21) caused the upset when he overhauled the $1.18 favourite to score a three-quarter length win the Group Two Todman (1200m), a traditional lead-up to the $3.5 million Slipper in two weeks.
TAB Sportsbet eased Sepoy from $2 to $2.90 for the Golden Slipper and firmed Smart Missile from $21 to $5.50.
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy said Sepoy was under pressure from the 600 metres on the dead (5) track with the race run in driving rain.
“He never travelled at all from the 600 when the pressure went on,” McEvoy said.
“He never handled the ground at all. He just didn’t travel in it.”
While trainer Peter Snowden and the Darley team were left wondering, winning trainer Cummings was all smiles.
The winner of the Breeders’ Plate on debut in October, Smart Missile has had a couple of setbacks due to mucous in his nose.
He has spent some time at agistment farm Wild Oaks near Sydney which Cummings said had been of great benefit.
“Having the ability to send him to Wild Oaks is probably the difference between being here or not,” he said.
“Before he raced in the spring I said he was the best two-year-old I’ve ever had and we’ve seen what he can do today.
“He is still learning his racecraft, he was slow out of the gates but we’ve got another two weeks to work with him.”
“I loved him from the time I got on him last Saturday morning,” jockey Glen Boss said.
“I really like him a lot. That makes it interesting now, doesn’t it.
Foxwedge ($9) ran on well for third, a long neck behind Sepoy, with jockey Nash Rawiller also reporting he was uncomfortable in the going.
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