It's a fairytale you wouldn't dream about with Ballarat's Damien Murnane to begin a new job as a traffic controller on Monday but with $250,000 tucked away in his back pocket thanks to a freak Tasmanian filly.
Ballarat's Damien Murnane starts a new job as a traffic controller on Monday, but in the space of 95 seconds on Saturday, he received a $250,000 cash injection towards his retirement plan.
In a manufactured race meant to generate fairytales, Murnane's story was almost as much a part of the race's tapestry as the winner, Tasmanian freak filly Mystic Journey, who took on some of the best milers in the country - and some battlers - to win the inaugural $5 million All-Star Mile.
CLASH AVERTED: WINX CLASH WON'T HAPPEN
There were great storylines everywhere at Flemington, providing a good advertisement for Racing Victoria's new race concept.
Mystic Journey, the $11,000 bargain basement buy, out of an unfashionable sire Needs Further, launched her claim as one of the best horses in Australia with her gutsy victory over Godolphin pair Hartnell and Alizee.
The victory, which came a fortnight after her Australian Guineas win, saw the horse dubbed "the Winx of Tassie" crunched into second favourite for this year's Cox Plate.
It was a huge success for Tasmanian trainer Adam Trinder, whose fiancee helped pick the filly out at the yearlings sales; for battling jockey Anthony Darmanin, who pocketed the richest pay cheque of his career; and for owner Wayne Roser, who is still coming to terms with the horse's remarkable 10 wins from 13 starts, including six in a row.
Murnane's part in it - and his stunning windfall - was pure providence.
That's the way he saw it, as he just happened to be the lucky person chosen as the All-Star ambassador for Mystic Journey, which yielded his $250,000 win.
He had initially voted for Moss 'N' Dale, but was allocated Mystic Journey as part of the second chance draw.
Asked how his heart was feeling when the filly hit the front, Murnane said: "It was just hanging in there."
"It's going to take a few days to get back to normal - if I ever get back to normal."
Murnane, 59, worked for more than 15 years as a lab technician in the plastics industry, but needed a career change to see out "the last few years" of his working life.
While he still plans to start his new position on Monday, he knows the ambassador's first prize of $250,000 will bring a swiftier retirement.
His wife was happy to have had $10 each way on Mystic Journey, but their collective return has proven a life changer."
Retirement will come a bit sooner for me now," he said, almost breathless in the Flemington mounting yard.
"This means everything to me. It makes life so much easier for me, it's just amazing. I am in shock."
"Everyone said to me, 'you are on a good thing today', and I was."
She had a beautiful ride. I thought she was in a good spot, I was watching her on the big screen and she seemed to be doing all right.
"The jockey was so patient. He rode her a treat, thank you, Anthony (Darmanin).
"I've got to go and catch up with Adam (Trinder) and Wayne (Roser).
"I couldn't believe it when she won."
Trainer Adam Trinder said the three-year-old would now be spelled concentrate on a Cox Plate campaign in the spring.
TAB BIG BETS
RACE ONE
Punters were off to a rocky start at Flemington when the two heavily backed runners failed to run a place.
The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour Trophy (1200m) was dominated by Clarice Cliffs ($1.95) and Just Hifalutin ($5.50).
The pair were responsible for a whopping 80 percent of the market.It was Swift Sis ($13-$17) though which handled the straight best to defeat Flying Krupt ($14) and Mamzelle Tess ($41) with Just Hifalutin close up in fourth.
Clarice Cliffs, which was more than twice as popular as Just Hifalutin, came down the grandstand side but that didn't appear to be the place to be with the Greg Eurell finishing on the heels of the placegetters.
BETS: Clarice Cliffs $15,.000 @ $2, $9000 @ $2, $5000 @ $2, $4000 @ $2, $3000 @ $2, $1700 @ $2, $1500 @ $2, $1300 @ $2, $1000 @ $2 MULTIPLE TIMES, $9000 @ $1.95, $5600 @ $1.90
BETS: Just Hifalutin $1000 @ $5 MULTIPLE TIMES
BETS: Quilista $1000 @ $12
RACE TWO
Favourite backers didn't have much luck in the Autumn Trophy (1400m) with the heavily tried Jumbo Ozaki not getting out until it was too late.
Outrageous ($7-$12) defied the betting drift to lead all-the-way for Team Hawkes and Dwayne Dunn, beating East Indiaman ($6) which was wide throughout and Jumbo Ozaki.
The fav was on the fence and didn't find clear running until the final 200 metres but by that time the bird and flown.
The Phillip Stokes runner was one of the best tried runners of the day and held 67 percent of the total investment.
BETS: Jumbo Ozaki $5000 @ $1.95, $4000 @ $1.95, $3500 @ $1.95 TWICE, $2000 @ $1.95 MULTIPLE TIMES, $2000 @ $1.90 MULTIPLE TIMES
RACE THREE
The rough results continued early on at Flemington with a dead-heat the result in the TBV Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m).Nothing could split Flit ($6.50-$9.50-$8) and Ready Set Sail ($26) as the pair were the two widest runners down the straight.
Flit had been one of the best tried runners earlier in the week when TAB had offered as much as $15.
While the Godolphin runner and Mick Price's filly had attracted good each-way support, most of the attention in this race was on Talented ($2.70) which was $3.80 on Wednesday.Talented was more than five times as popular as anything else.
BETS: Flit $2000 @ $9.50
BETS: Talented $5000 @ $2.70, $10,000 @ $2.60, $4000 @ $2.60
RACE FOUR
Causeway Girl ($6) lasted in a tight finish to take out the Furphy Ale Trophy (1100m).
The Clinton McDonald runner had to be ridden right out by Damien Oliver as the pair got the bob on the line over the well-tried Thine Is The Power ($15-$12-$7.50) which narrowly missed out on landing a nice betting move.
Beauty ($7.50), one of the most popular runners in the race, held third.
Assertive Play ($4.40) held more than anything else and was responsible for just over a quarter of the market.
BETS: Causeway Girl $1000 @ $6 THREE TIMES, $2000 @ $5.50BETS: Thine Is The Power $5000 @ $8.50
RACE FIVE
The most popular runner in the race was Wetakemanhattan and he did the right thing by his backers by capturing the Grand Classic Final (2000m).
Stalking the speed and sitting third in the run, jockey Jordan Childs waited until straightening before claiming the leaders and putting the issue beyond doubt.
Wetakemanhattan ($4.60-$6) defeated the fast-finishing Dark Pearl ($34-$26) and El Don ($21-$11) which had been specked at the each-way odds.
In what was a fairly wide open betting affair, Bering Sea ($10), Scared Theme ($10) and Mieszko ($8-$6) had their share of support.
RACE SIX
Prometheus scored an upset when taking out the Grand Mile Final (1600m) for trainer Matty Dale.
Sent out a $19 chance, Prometheus stalked the speed set by Red Crown and Gasworx and claimed the pair midway down the straight.
Charging away from the rest of the field, he beat the well supported pair of Mr Reckless ($6) and Remember The Name ($7-$5.50).
BETS: Mr Reckless $3000 @ $6 BETS: Remember The Name $7500 @ $5
RACE SEVEN
Punters were spot on with Widgee Turf in the Seppelt Wines March Stakes (1400m).
The Patrick Payne-trained runner was easily the best tried in the race, holding nearly three times as much as the next best supported horse which was Zebulon ($5.50-$7.50).
Settling just off the speed, Billy Egan produced the gelding on straightening and he simply overpowered his rivals, going on to beat Hellova Street ($5) and Streets Of Avalon ($6.50).
BETS: Widgee Turf $2,800 @ $4.60, $5,000 @ $4.40, $2,700 @ $4.40, $2,000 e/w @ $4.40/$1.80, $2,000 @ $4.40, $1,000 @ $4.40 MULTIPLE TIMES
RACE EIGHT
Mystic Journey gave nothing else an excuse as she powered away to win the inaugural running of the All-Star Mile (1600m).
The favourite sat wide for the majority of the race but went straight past Alizee ($4.40) in the straight before holding off another Godolphin runner in Hartnell ($10-$12).
Mystic Journey ($4.20-$3.90), trained by Adam Trinder and ridden by Anthony Darmanin, had her share of admirers but wasn't the most popular runner with that honour going to Alizee which held more than three times the money that the winner did.
Happy Clapper ($4.40-$4) was the next best supported while Grunt ($13) and Hartnell held slightly more than Mystic Journey.
BETS: Mystic Journey $1500 @ $4.20, $2200 @ $3.90, $10,000 @ $3.80, $20,000 @ $1.60
PLACE BETS: Happy Clapper $11,000 @ $4.40, $10,000 @ $4.20BETS: Hartnell $1000 @ $10
BETS: Grunt $1300 @ $16, $1000 @ $13 TWICE
RACE NINE
Mastering was a very popular choice for TAB customers in the final event of the day at Flemington.
The Mick Price runner was $2.60 favourite and held 60 percent of the total investment, however, favourite backers were left disappointed after Villa Sarchi took the money.
Villa Sarchi was specked throughout the day and firmed from $15-$8.50, landing a good betting move as it beat Spirit Of Aquada ($4.60) and Mastering.
BETS: Villa Sarchi $500 e/w @ $9/$2.70, $500 x $1,500 e/w @ $8/$2.50
BETS: Mastering $4000 @ $2.70, $3000 @ $2.60, $2000 @ $2.60BETS: Spirit Of Aquada $6000 @ $4.40, $2000 @ $4.40
That concludes our coverage of the inaugural All-Star Mile meeting, which saw Tasmanian filly Mystic Journey take out the $5 million feature.
Just an an $11,000 yearling purchase, Mystic Journey covered extra ground in beating Godolphin duo Hartnell and Alizee in the world’s richest mile race at Flemington.
Be sure to join us again next week as our live coverage heads to Rosehill Gardens for Golden Slipper Day.
1. VILLA SARCHI
2. SPIRIT OF AQUADA
3. MASTERING
Spirit Of Aquada has rattled home to just miss in thrilling finish with the Heath Conners-trained Villa Sarchi getting the nod.
Anthony Darmanin and Mystic Journey return to scale and the Tasmanian filly is cooled down with some water.
Today we are proud Tasmanian’s with ⭐️ filly Mystic Journey winning the inaugural #allstarmile. By our Tasmanian based sire Needs Further. #Betty was born and raised in Tasmania at Armidale. Trained by a Tasmanian. What a day to be #Tasmanian. 🍎 🌴 #betty #needsfurther https://t.co/0XcUmWbXun
— Armidale Stud (@Armidale_Stud) March 16, 2019
Congratulations to the connections of the Victorian bred MYSTIC JOURNEY, who have just won the inaugural running of the All Star Mile at Flemington today! Bred by Victoria’s Mr Ralph Zito, she is trained by Adam Trinder and was ridden to victory by Anthony Darmanin! pic.twitter.com/ssBks2Rm1s
— TBV (@vicbreeders) March 16, 2019
All-Star Mile finishing order and prizemoney distribution:
1. Mystic Journey, Anthony Darmanin – $2,250,000
2. Hartnell, William Buick – $720,000
3. Alizee, Hugh Bowman – $360,000
4. Le Romain, Dwayne Dunn – $210,000
5. Grunt, Damien Oliver – $150,000
6. Amphitrite, Craig Williams – $90,000
7. Hawkshot, Mark Zahra – $90,000
8. Happy Clapper, Blake Shine – $90,000
9. Balf’s Choice, Simon Price – $90,000
10. Material Man, Lucy Wawrick – $90,000
11. Mr Money Bags, Ben Melham – $90,000
12. Man Of His Word, Damien Thornton – $90,000
13. Moss ‘N’ Dale, Jack Martin – $90,000
14. Urban Ruler, Jamie Mott – $90,000
All-Star Mile finishing order and prizemoney distribution:
1. Mystic Journey, Anthony Darmanin – $2,250,000
2. Hartnell, William Buick – $720,000
3. Alizee, Hugh Bowman – $360,000
4. Le Romain, Dwayne Dunn – $210,000
5. Grunt, Damien Oliver – $150,000
6. Amphitrite, Craig Williams – $90,000
7. Hawkshot, Mark Zahra – $90,000
8. Happy Clapper, Blake Shine – $90,000
9. Balf’s Choice, Simon Price – $90,000
10. Material Man, Lucy Wawrick – $90,000
11. Mr Money Bags, Ben Melham – $90,000
12. Man Of His Word, Damien Thornton – $90,000
13. Moss ‘N’ Dale, Jack Martin – $90,000
14. Urban Ruler, Jamie Mott – $90,000
Tasmanian filly Mystic Journey staves off the might of the Godolphin stable to claim the inaugural $5 million All-Star Mile.
Tasmanian filly Mystic Journey staves off the might of the Godolphin stable to claim the inaugural $5 million All-Star Mile.
R9 (5.50pm): GRAND SPRINT FINAL (1200m
SPIRIT OF AQUADA (9) flew home to win first-up at The Valley. He’s a classy sprinter and he’ll be suited by his wide draw. MASTERING (5) flies fresh and his only start this track and distance, he finished second to Usain Bowler on December 22. VILLA SARCHI (12) possesses a fast finishing burst and should be suited by the straight. TBILISI (8) is racing consistently. ENIGMAN (1) has the class to be in the finish.
SUGGESTED BET: SPIRIT OF AQUADA each-way.
Trainer Jason Warren will revert to the tactics that saw Palm Angel win on debut when the filly lines up in the Blue Diamond Prelude on Saturday.
Anthony Cummings and Gerry Harvey aim to win their second race this week as a pair when the gelded Straand Beauty resumes under lights at Canterbury