Winning Horse: Blandford Lad (Nz)

6yoG Savabeel (Aus) - Staryn Glenn (NZ)(Montjeu (Ire))

37 starts - 6 wins 4 seconds 3 thirds 3 fourths $339425

Other Wins

1st Ballarat Global Turf (Bm78) 2600m (2020)

1st Sandown-Hillside Ladbrokes Odds Boost (Bm70) 2400m (2020)

1st Bendigo Bet365 Racing Refunds (Bm64) 2400m (2020)

1st Moe Moe Optical Moe Cup 17/10-Bm64 2088m (2019)

1st Sale Pantac Protective Security Mdn 1600m (2019)

Other Placings

2nd Cranbourne Reed Cranes Marathon (Bm84) 2550m (2021)

3rd Cranbourne Obrien Real Estate (Bm70) 2600m (2021)

2nd Cranbourne Afc-Peter&Lavella Darose-Bm70 2580m (2021)

2nd Geelong Coulter Roache (Bm70) 2400m (2020)

3rd Bendigo Catanach's Jewellers (Bm64) 2200m (2020)

2nd Caulfield Alfa Romeo Plate (Bm78) 2000m (2019)

3rd Sale Sale Ladies Day - 8/9 Mdn 1205m (2019)

Race Result:

1st: Blandford Lad (Craig Williams/Peter Gelagotis) - $31

2nd: Steel Skies (Damian Lane/Mathew Ellerton) - $6.50
3rd: Through Irish Eyes (Josh Richards/Ciaron Maher & David Eustace) - $4.80

Winning Time: 2:39:37 Last 600m: N/A

Margins: 1/2L x Long Neck

Winning Trainer: Peter Gelagotis

Surprised: “On one side of the fence I’m very surprised, on the other side I’ve always thought that he had Saturday class ability. I’ve resorted to the fact that he’s just a wet-tracker.

“He had a hurdle school last Friday because that’s where he’s going. His last four or five runs have been a bit below par and going through the motions, whether that has switched him on and he thought ‘I’m going to have a crack today’ and he’s shown what he can do when he does try.

“Congratulations to Craig. It was a great ride. He was patient and gave him his opportunity.

“When he loomed up at the 200 (metres), I thought ‘hello, he’s going to win this’ and I yelling and cheering and he got up and won.

“Congratulations to the ownership group.”

Winning Jockey: Craig Williams

Riding the horse prior: “I did learn something about him that day and spoke to Pete about what I’d do differently. He’s a lovely horse to ride but does take a lot of riding. Onwards and upwards for that horse and he’ll get a lot of confidence out of today’s win.”

“Credit to Peter Gelagotis, he’s an owner in the horse. He’s jumped him in between his last race and they’ve got no illusions about the horse’s ability, but today we saw him at his best”