A boilover for the ages occurred at Flemington on Saturday as 100-1 shot Gatting claimed the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) in a memorable upset.
First-up after running fifth at Belmont in late August, Darren Mcauliffe’s six-year-old looked no chance in a capacity field made up of Adam Trinder’s star mare Mystic Journey, Memsie Stakes winner Scales of Justice and a pair of Chris Waller’s top gallopers.
But while all eyes were on Scales of Justice along the rails, it was Gatting who loomed up on the outside down the straight after a gun ride from jockey Jamie Kah.
Originally sitting third along the rails at the 1000m mark, the pair found clean air down the straight before Gatting’s undiscovered turn of foot switched into gear.
“This horse was just travelling beautifully, you couldn’t ask for a better run than he got. In the straight I was just waiting for something to come past me, it just got stronger and stronger as we got close to the line” Kah told Channel 7 after the race.
The path to Saturday’s win featured several twists and turns, but when Mcauliffe was asked if he thought Gatting was a chance, he didn’t hold back.
“One hundred percent. I thought he didn’t have things go his way first-up. He’s got form around horses like Arcadia Queen and we saw one in Sydney. He’s a good horse, Jamie rode him perfectly, followed the instructions to the letter and we got it right.”
Gatting’s last win came back in June in the Group 3 Hyperion Stakes at Belmont, a race he won ahead of well-known Perth galloper, Galaxy Star.
Before that, Gatting’s last Group 1 start saw him run fourth behind Galaxy Star, Material Man and Arcadia Queen in the Kingston Town Classic last December.
The plan moving forward is unclear, but with a nomination in next month’s Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) on October 26, there’s a chance we see Gatting step up beyond the mile.
As for Mystic Journey, the seven-race undefeated streak has now come to an end, taking some of the pressure off Adan Trinder as he also looks ahead to next months Cox Plate.
Mystic Journey is currently the All-In favourite with Ladbrokes.com.au at $5.00, while Gatting has firmed into $31.00.
2019 Makybe Diva Stakes Results & Finishing Order
Place | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | Hcp. Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 6 | GATTING | Darren Mcauliffe | Jamie Kah | – | 8 | 59kg | $101 |
2 | 13 | MYSTIC JOURNEY | Adam Trinder | Anthony Darmanin | 0.75L | 10 | 56.5kg | $2.05F |
3 | 12 | MR QUICKIE | Phillip Stokes | John Allen | 1.5L | 12 | 58.5kg | $31 |
4 | 1 | HARTNELL (GB) | James Cummings | Craig Williams | 1.7L | 11 | 59kg | $10 |
5 | 4 | SCALES OF JUSTICE | Lindsey Smith | Dean Yendall | 2.1L | 9 | 59kg | $4 |
6 | 8 | FIFTY STARS (IRE) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Ben Allen | 2.85L | 3 | 59kg | $26 |
7 | 5 | ROSTROPOVICH (IRE) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Dwayne Dunn | 3.05L | 13 | 59kg | $26 |
8 | 7 | KINGS WILL DREAM (IRE) | Chris Waller | Mark Zahra | 3.25L | 5 | 59kg | $13 |
9 | 10 | NIGHT’S WATCH (NZ) | Chris Waller | Damien Oliver | 3.45L | 15 | 59kg | $71 |
10 | 3 | HUMIDOR (NZ) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Damian Lane | 6.2L | 14 | 59kg | $31 |
11 | 14 | OOHOOD | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Michael Dee | 6.3L | 4 | 56.5kg | $51 |
12 | 9 | YUCATAN (IRE) | Liam Howley | Ben Melham | 6.5L | 2 | 59kg | $17 |
13 | 2 | GAILO CHOP (FR) | Matthew Williams | Ms Linda Meech | 7.5L | 6 | 59kg | $51 |
14 | 11 | SOUND (GER) | Michael Moroney | Jamie Mott | 7.6L | 1 | 59kg | $201 |
15 | 15 | QAFILA | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Luke Nolen | 7.7L | 7 | 56.5kg | $41 |