Shawn Mathrick saddled up seven runners at Mildura on Saturday, all of them sent out at single-figure odds. Partnering each of the stable’s charges was jockey Liam Riordan, who shared in a remarkable day for the Cranbourne trainer.
On paper, it looked like Mathrick was set for a big day in Sunraysia – and so it proved. He went home with four winners and a further two placings.
The winning spree began in race two with debutant Alexander Thegreat, who pressed forward, travelled on speed and then pulled clear late to score, much to punters’ delight.
Saxon Beauty made it two when leading throughout in race four, before The Wizard King delivered back-to-back victories for the yard in race six. The four-timer was complete in the last when Brullen, the well-backed favourite, lifted off the canvas to repel Sakasu in a thrilling photo finish.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for punters, though. Marilyn’s Edge (race five) was the best-backed runner on the card, crunched from $2.30 into $1.65. She looked home when skipping clear at the top of the straight, only to be grabbed in the shadows of the post by Hollywoodboulevard.
Mathrick and Riordan’s day out at Mildura:
- Race 1 – Honey Maker ($4.40) ran 5th
- Race 2 – Alexander Thegreat ($3.10) won
- Race 3 – Wayed In Light ($4.80) 4th
- Race 4 – Saxon Beauty ($4) won
- Race 5 – Marilyn’s Edge ($1.65) 2nd
- Race 6 – The Wizard King ($7.50) won
- Race 8 – Brullen ($3) won
