Stakes Day: Flemington Spring Carnival day four

Quick, someone get a stretcher! One punter would be feeling in need of somewhere to lie down after a series of heavy losses on the punt at Flemington, including one of $99,000 on Santa Ana Lane.

Tough start to the day for one punter who blew $60,000 on a TAB bundle bet on the four most favoured horses to win race 2 at Flemington only to see all of them finish out of the placings.

The punter took the odds of $1.08 for any of Wetakemanhattan ($5), Lucky For All ($6), Grinzinger Star ($3) or Starcaster ($5) to win the race.

But Savvy Oak ($19) finished over the top of the field to take out the race, leaving the punter seriously out of pocket.

The punter couldn’t even manage one of his selections finishing in the top 3, as Saddle The Sun ($15) and El Don ($31) filled the placings.

And it didn’t end there with the same punter blowing $75,000 on Santa Ana Lane the place and a further $24,000 the win in the Group 1 Sprint Classic.

Those two losses came after he clawed back some cash with $60,000 at $1.22 on True Self to place. True Self won the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes quite easily.

James McDonald and Nature Strip run their rivals ragged, including hot favourite Santa Ana Lane, in the Sprint Classic.

TASSIE TOUGH

It was first blood to Tassie on Stakes Day as talented five-year-old gelding Mandela Effect held off Godolphin’s fast-finishing Ranier to take out the Cup Week Radio Trophy at Flemington.

Tasmanian trainer Scott Brunton couldn’t have been more pleased with the result, saying he once thought Mandela Effect was the best horse in his stable — until his new star The Inevitable took the next leap.

“He’s a great horse,” Brunton said of Mandela Effect.

“He does a terrific job. I once said that he was my best but I think The Inevitable has taken over that crown. He tries hard, it’s good to see him pull it out.”

Jamie McDonald and Mandela Effect (right) edge out Rainer (from left) in the first race.

Mandela Effect ($4.80) was always handy, while Ranier ($4.80) was always a long way back before launching late to finish a short-head away from the winner.

“I didn’t cheer, I didn’t barrack,” he said. “I had my heart in my mouth the whole way. I thought he was going to get picked up.

Jamie McDonald pilots Mandela Effect to victory on Stakes Day.

“He (James McDonald) probably rode him a little closer than what I would’ve liked and they went pretty quick. I noticed Ranier … tailed out the back. I just thought that we might be a sitting shot but he got the job done.”

McDonald said: ““It felt like every time he felt the other horses coming he surged again.”

“It’s good to get a winner to kick the day off. I’ve got nice chances all day. I reckon Kings Will Dream will run really well (in the Mackinnon Stakes).”

LUCK’S A FORTUNE

It really is a numbers game with one punter getting a home a first four dividend in excess of $26,000 in the Matriarch Stakes after a blowout result.

Oceanex took out the Matriarch Stakes from fellow outsiders Miss Siska and Aristocratic Miss.

VIC TAB – First 4 (Matriarch Stakes)

Spend: $20

Flexi: 13.88%

Selections

1st: 9,14

2nd: 4,9,14

3rd: 1,4,7,8,9,10,14,15

4th: 1,4,7,8,9,10,12,14,15

Dividend: $187,492

Collect: $26,023.89

Stephen Baster enjoys a wee drop as the curtain comes down on his career

WHAT A CORKER

The hands shakes and backslaps from trainers and connections as he walked out of Flemington for the final time as a rider was an emotional exit for Stephen Baster.

After 28 years in the saddle Baster, a 12-time Group 1 winner, enjoyed a champagne shower from his fellow jockeys after his last-ever ride at headquarters.

But that, and a lot of kind words, were the only presents he got from his colleagues who weren’t prepared to accommodate the perfect exit with a win.

“Nope, they didn’t get out of my way during the race,” the ever-smiling 44-year-old said.

“But there has been plenty of kind words, which is nice.

“I’m still going to be hanging around too, I’ll be doing some stuff for the jockey’s association and I’ll be here for the big days, but just not with my riding gear.”

Baster, who rode more than 1200 winners during his career, is embarking on a career in real estate, after one more meeting at Sandown next Saturday, his final send-off.

With Russell Gould

Baster is sprayed with champagne from fellow jockeys after riding in his last race.

TAB BIG BETS

WINNERS

$60,000 @ $1.22 on True Self to place (Flemington Race 4 – Won)

$33,450 @ $1.28 on Catalyst (Riccarton [NZ] Race 7)

$13,000 @ $2 on True Self (Flemington Race 4)

$10,000 @ $4.40 on Magic Wand (Mackinnon Stakes)

$10,000 Multi @ $1.41 on Mandela Effect, Ranier, Reserve Street or Good ‘N’ Fast (Flemington Race 1 – Mandela Effect won)

$8,000 @ $1.70 on Lucicello (Rosehill Race 1)

$5,500 @ $3.80 on Nature Strip (VRC Sprint Classic)

$5,500 @ $3.70 on Nature Strip (VRC Sprint Classic)

$5,000 @ $4.40 on Magic Wand (Mackinnon Stakes)

$4,500 @ $3.80 on Nature Strip (VRC Sprint Classic)

LOSERS

$75,000 @ $1.20 on Santa Ana Lane to place (VRC Sprint Classic)

$60,000 Bundle Bet @ $1.08 on Wetakemanhattan, Lucky For All, Grinzinger Star or Starcaster to win (Flemington Race 2 – Savvy Oak won)

$25,000 each-way @ $5/$1.95 on Rondinella (Flemington Race 6 – Unplaced)

$24,000 @ $2.15 on Santa Ana Lane (VRC Sprint Classic – Unplaced)

$20,250 @ $2.30 on Maid Of Ore (Rosehill Race 5 – Unplaced)

$20,000 @ $3.10 on Tanker (Rosehill Race 6 – Unplaced)

$12,000 @ $8.50 on Streets Of Avalon (Flemington Race 7 – Unplaced)

$10,000 @ $10 and $10,000 @ $9.50 on Malkovich (Rosehill Race 6 – Unplaced) [same customer]

$10,000 @ $9.50 on Trommelschlagen (Doomben Race 8 – Unplaced)

$10,000 @ $2.80 on Tanker (Rosehill Race 6 – Unplaced)

$10,000 @ $2.40 on Maid Of Ore (Rosehill Race 5 – Unplaced)

$10,000 @ $2.15 on Santa Ana Lane (VRC Sprint Classic – Unplaced)

$10,000 @ $1.20 on Santa Ana Lane to place (VRC Sprint Classic)

$9000 @ $8 on Greysful Glamour (Flemington Race 6 – Unplaced)

$9000 @ $4.40 on Rabbit Hunter (Doomben Race 6 – Second)

$9000 @ $3.70 on Melody Belle (Mackinnon Stakes – Second)

$7800 @ $3.70 on Melody Belle (Mackinnon Stakes – Second)

$7600 @ $1.35 on Jaguary (Morphettville Parks Race 1 – Second)

$7000 @ $6.50 on King Red (Morphettville Parks Race 6 – Unplaced)

$6500 @ $2.50 on Trumbull (Rosehill Race 8 – Third)

$6500 @ $2.15 on Santa Ana Lane (VRC Sprint Classic – Unplaced)

$6000 @ $3.90 on Power Rush (Doomben Race 6 – Unplaced)

$5250 @ $2.15 on Santa Ana Lane (VRC Sprint Classic – Unplaced)

$5100 @ $3 on Tanker (Rosehill Race 6 – Unplaced)

$5000 Treble @ $11.93 on Grinzinger Star (Flemington Race 2 – Unplaced) | True Self (Flemington Race 4 – Won) | Santa Ana Lane (VRC Sprint Classic – Unplaced)

$5,000 Double @ $6.88 on Santa Ana Lane (VRC Sprint Classic – Unplaced) | Melody Belle (Mackinnon Stakes – Second)

$5000 @ $5.50 on Rondinella (Flemington Race 6 – Unplaced)

$5000 @ $3.80 on Admiral’s Joker (Flemington Race 7 – Second)

$5000 @ $3.60 on Admiral’s Joker (Flemington Race 7 – Second)

$5000 @ $2.90 on Girl Tuesday (Flemington Race 6 – Unplaced) ** Two separate bets **

$5000 @ $2.80 on Stenmark (Morphettville Parks Race 4 – Second)

$5000 @ $2.60 on Trumbull (Rosehill Race 8 – Third)

$5000 @ $2.50 on Maid Of Ore (Rosehill Race 5 – Unplaced)

$5000 @ $2.50 on Trumbull (Rosehill Race 8 – Third)

$5000 @ $2.40 on Knickpoint (Flemington Race 3 – Unplaced)

$5000 @ $2.15 on Santa Ana Lane (VRC Sprint Classic – Unplaced) ** four separate bets **

$4,000 Multi @ $35.84 on Angel Of Heaven (Rosehill Race 3 – Third) | True Self (Flemington Race 4 – Won) | Santa Ana Lane (VRC Sprint Classic – Unplaced) | Reelem In Ruby (Rosehill Race 7 – Won)

$4000 Multi @ $27.47 on Lucicello (Rosehill Race 1 – Won) | Knickpoint (Flemington Race 3 – Unplaced) | True Self (Flemington Race 4 – Won) | Reelem In Ruby (Rosehill Race 7 – Won)

$4000 @ $18 on Americana Magic (Rosehill Race 8 – Second)

$3000 Multi @ $45.78 on True Self (Flemington Race 4 – Won) | Santa Ana Lane (VRC Sprint Classic – Unplaced) | Reelem In Ruby (Rosehill Race 7 – Won) | Trumbull (Rosehill Race 8 – Third)

PENDING

$5000 each-way @ $26/$7.25 on Miami Bound (2020 Caulfield Cup)

Originally published as Stakes Day: Flemington Spring Carnival day four