A four-year-old mare with an explosive turn-of-foot prevailed in Saturday’s Champions Sprint at Flemington, but it wasn’t the one most expected.
Point Barrow sprung a Group 1 surprise when she took out the $3 million 1200-metre event that included Tempted, who only three weeks earlier dethroned Ka Ying Rising in the $20 million The Everest.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Point Barrow defeated Plaintiff and Skybird in an all-mares finish to the first of the day’s three Group 1 races in what was a proud result for the stable.
“She’s a good mare and I had good confidence coming into the race, albeit with Tempted in the field,” he said.
“She’s been a bloody good mare for a while and it’s been a long time coming. I’m glad she’s got the win at the top level.”
The daughter of Blue Point made it three wins on end, following two brilliant Group 3 wins at Caulfield, when she exploded late under Mark Zahra to record the eighth win of her 13-start career.
Point Barrow ($18) scored by a neck from Plaintiff, the $101 chance who looked the winner briefly inside the final 100m, with Skybird ($31) just a short-half-head away third.
Tempted, the $1.70 favourite who was chasing a sixth straight win, enjoyed a good run towards the outside of the field and loomed as the winner when presented at the 300m but laboured late into fifth position.
It was the third Champions Sprint win for Zahra, and second in a row after last year’s win on Giga Kick, and the champion rider was happy to see the gaps appear when they did.
“The thing in my favour was that we were an outsider and no one really cared about me,” he said.
“I drew in and just wanted to be slow away, which I was, and get to the outside and following Tempted.
“I didn’t like it right out wide on the track, so I didn’t want to continue to follow, and when they went out, I waited for a gap, which was just inside, which I think is better.
“When I burst through she had a real crack and pinned the ears back late. It was a good win.”
The Champions Sprint was Tempted’s first look at the Flemington straight and was an audition for an overseas campaign next year, but rider Chad Schofield said although pushed wider than he would have liked he suspected she left her best at Randwick.
“She’s obviously had a long, successful preparation but it has come to an end,” he said.
