Four years after contesting the inaugural All-Star Mile, Mr Money Bags may have run his last race, going out a winner at Sandown.
Resuming from a break, the Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock-trained galloper took out the IVE> Handicap (1300m) on Wednesday.
The victory was Mr Money Bags eighth from 54 starts and took his prize money to just shy of $700,000.
Ridden by Carleen Hefel, Mr Money Bags ($21) got up in the last stride to score by a head from the $3.30 betr.com.au favourite Eye Of The Eagle with Little Miss Gutsaa ($6) a long-head away third.
Mr Money Bags ran 11th behind Mystic Journey in the first staging of the All-Star Mile for Griffiths but left the stable in late 2020 to join Lindsey Smith at Warrnambool before a later transfer to Damien Batters in Queensland.
He re-joined the Griffiths and de Kock yard in the middle of last year with Wednesday’s victory his fifth start for the stable.
“He’s like any older person that is on a pension,” de Kock said.
“He’s feeling his ailments and I was just talking with Robbie that we may discuss with the ownership group and make him a last start winner and send him to the paddock.
“He’s a special horse to the yard and deserves a good home, so that maybe his last run.”
Mr Money Bags was having his first start since finishing 12th at Flemington in December and despite his long odds, de Kock said the stable had been hopeful, rather than confident of a forward showing on Wednesday.
“We know when Mr Money Bags puts his best foot forward, he is capable of winning a race like today and can never be discounted,” de Kock said.
“He’s a warrior and it’s a special win for the stable.”
