Robert Smerdon has trained the quinella in the Oakleigh Plate with Shamal Wind coming from last to beat Under The Louvre in the famous sprint.
Sent out at $10, Shamal Wind flew home down the middle of the Caulfied track for jockey Dwayne Dunn as Under The Louvre ($17) stayed near the rails.
Shamal Wind
Fast `N’ Rocking ($18) made his run with the winner before taking the minor placing.
“She deserves to win a race like this because she’s tried so hard all her life,” Dunn said.
Sydney sprinter I’m All The Talk made the running from Godolphin filly Earthquake and looked set to play a part in the finish when he shot away at the 300m.
But as Smerdon expected, $400,000 feature turned out to be a swoopers’ race.
Smerdon said it was unlikely Shamal Wind nor Under The Louvre would contest the premier sprint of the Melbourne autumn carnival – the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.
