Back Yourself!
Sign-up and start betting with Ladbrokes in 2 minutes!
Back A Winner with Neds!
Sign-up and start betting with Neds in 2 minutes!
Daily Racing Specials!
Sign-up and bet with Australia's best new bookmaker!
#1 Ranked New Bookie
Sign-up and bet with Australia's #1 ranked new bookmaker!
Best Of The Best Odds!
Bet With Palmerbet and get Paid Top Fluc or Top Tote!
Massive Odds on All Races!
Sign-up and start betting with PlayUp in 2 minutes!
What are you prepared to lose today?
Set a deposit limit.
Search
 
Image: Graham Potter

Punters watching the last race at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday did a quick double-take and then they still had to go and watch the race reply to try and process what they had just seen.

The race favourite Tokoriki Lad got the chocolates alright, but not before giving quite a display in the closing strides. Just as he seemed to have secured victory with an at times slogging but determined, well timed run up the length of the straight … Tokoriki’s head went high with his neck stretched out to the full, pointing to the heavens in a quite dramatic fashion.

Viewed at normal speed, the replay showed the whole episode only took a split second and, with the finishing line right there, Tokoriki Lad’s very unusual antics did not cost him anything and those who had taken bets on him could happily laugh about it afterwards.

In fact, most people at the track had a smile on their faces … while also shaking their heads. Not many had seen something like that in a finish before.

Jockey Jim Byrne tried to offer an explanation, but he basically was as stumped by the incident as the rest of us.

‘I don’t actually know what happened,” said Byrne. “I got a little bit serious with him because the other horse came down the fence. Whether he saw that horse … again, I don’t know because he was going to win pretty comfortably, but then just got his head right up.

“I think he has got a fair bit of character as we have seen previously. He is racing very true and has a very competitive nature … and sometimes I think that competitive nature spills over with other horses.

“He is very calm in the run, but as soon as it comes down to the business end he gets a little bit aggressive. In the saddle you just react to it as you need to and I was paying attention to that so it was only when I pulled up that I thought … did he just get himself beat here?”

Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.

That would have been quite some way to get beaten!

 
*Existing customers only. 2nd Racing bet. Excl SA & WA. T’s & C’s apply. Gamble responsibly.
What are you prepared to lose today?
Set a deposit limit.
Featured News

FREE BETS – Claim $1000’s in Bonus Bets at the TOP Betting Sites

We take a look at the BIGGEST and BEST Free Daily Racing Offers and Betting Promotions from Australia’s leading online...

Golden Slipper Likely Field – 2024

The biggest two-year-old race of the year will jump this Saturday in arguably one of the best fields in recent...

Former trainer handed a five-year ban for pulling stewards pants down

Former trainer Todd Balfour has been handed a five-year disqualification by Racing SA stewards after a misconduct incident at the...

Melbourne Cup champion Verry Elleegant passes away

Verry Elleegant, one of the great mares in the history of Australian racing, has died while giving birth to her...

Watch 📺 Jockey banned from all racing premises over ride

Jockey Dylan Kitts has been penalised with a disciplinary officer exclusion directive due to non-compliance with an inquiry regarding his...

Group 1 winner returns positive swab

Racing Victoria stewards are investigating a positive swab from Group 1-winning mare Prowess, the racehorse trained by Roger James and...

Alligator Blood injured, career in doubt

Cult galloper Alligator Blood may have run his last race, with trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott confirming the star galloper had...

Nikita Beriman returns to the saddle

July 1, 2023 to January 26, 2024 … that period represents the just shy of seven months that Nikita Beriman...

Australia's Best Betting Sites

New Betting Sites Australia + Top List Bookmaker Apps $$$

Betting in Australia has never been more popular thanks to a large increase in new betting Agencies and Apps available...

Top 10 – Funniest Race Horse Names

Horse racing. Known as the ‘Sport Of Kings’, an industry worth billions, a very serious business…but to some, it’s a...

Best Horse Betting Sites in Australia

Best Horse Racing Betting Apps and Betting Sites – March 2024

We take a look at the best online betting apps to bet on horse racing in Australia for the month...

Golden Slipper

The Golden Slipper is one of the biggest and most prestigious horse races in Australia. Taking place each April at...

Australian Bookmaker Reviews – Online Bookie Ratings $$

Which bookmaker should you bet with? We Review each of the leading online Australian Bookmakers and rate them in order...

 
 
What are you prepared to lose today?
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au