Smart maiden filly LADY OF LUXURY (Criterion-Miss Beauty World) had punters and racegoers alike holding their collective breathes as she climbed dangerously on a very wet track all over the back of those in front of her at Kensington today.
For at least 50m down the straight she looked likely to clip heels and fall as she just could not get a run.
NEARLY FINE (Exosphere-Shemakhan) won the race and probably heads to Hong Kong now to continue his racing.
But, favourite backers didn’t care too much about that.
They sat at home, on track and in pubs across the land watching their bet go up in smoke when every single run closed on the heavily tried filly Lady Of Luxury.
And Brenton Avdulla on ARTIC (More Than Ready-Attractive) made sure of it when he loomed up alongside her with 300m to go ensuring she stayed bottled up behind tiring horses.
Lady Of Luxury was travelling for rider Rachel King to the bend, but King chose to move off the fence, despite there being a run on the inside and the moment she did, the traffic closed in on her.
Watch 📺: Lady Of Luxury in yellow is nearly skittled while angling for a run in the straight 👇
“If he hadn’t won today I’d say he would be staying here but he stepped up and deserved that win and he’ll most likely go to Hong Kong now,” said winning trainer Mark Newnham.
The 3YO gelding was having his 8th race start today. He now has a win and six placings to his name.
“His owner My Yap is in Hong Kong,” added the trainer.
As for Lady Of Luxury, well, albeit luckily she stayed on her feet and lives to fight another day but for the punters who backed her from $6.50 into $3.40 with Sportsbet it was a tough watch.
Would she have won had she got out? Moot point as she ran 7th and was beaten 8 lengths.
Thoughts?
