His horse Smokin’ Salmon needed a scratching to get promoted from the ranks of the emergencies just for a start in the $20 000 bet365 Racing Refunds over 1200m.
At 9 am Monday the three-year-old filly was quoted at 8/1, but had drifted to 15/1 and wasn’t on anyone’s short list by the time the starter let them go.
What’s next for Osborne’s Red Impulse?
By the 800m mark jockey Tatum Bull and Smokin’ Salmon found themselves back in the middle of the 12-horse field with some work to do.
As they came around the bend the filly got shuffled further back on the inside of the track.
As they straightened the field spread the width of the track with the highly fancied Wasabi just off the outside rail as the race turned into the Charge of the Light Brigade.
With 150m to go it appeared the race caller had lost sight of Smokin’ Salmon, but she surged in the shadow of the post to catch Star Finder by a half head.
Benalla Sportstar: O’Brien back on the horse
If punters were hoping to get out on the last they would have been better getting out of town.
Smokin’ Salmon was 15/1, second was at 18/1 and third at 21/1.
The winner paid $14.70 the trifecta returned a handsome $3265 and the first four, not surprisingly, offered a whopping $37,500.
And Last-Race Russell was still chuckling about it on his long drive home to Benalla – although he admitted he was not seeing anything funny on the long drive up.
Osborne’s big fish smoked ‘em
“I was already running a bit late because of all the roadworks and it was pouring rain much of the way so I had pretty well convinced myself by the time we got there the meeting would have been abandoned,” Osborne said.
“They had already had their cup meeting on this track and today was a pick up meeting from Mildura, so by the ninth the track was pretty chopped up.
“When rider Tatum Bull asked for my instructions I told her not to get my colours dirty – and she was amazed after the race how much mud and stuff had got on her.”
After Monday’s win Osborne said he was putting Smokin’ Salmon out for a freshener – maybe four or five weeks in the paddock.
Benalla Sportstar: Passion for riding key to Shantelle’s success
He said while the filly had done well this time in, each time she had gone up to a BM64 she was not quite there, so he was hoping a bit more age and strength would make a difference.
“I’m not sure she is a city horse, but I do believe we will have a lot of fun with her,” he said.
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