Layla's win shocks punters

Luke Dillon kicks home Classy Crystal (centre) in yesterday’s Open Handicap (970m).

MEGAN LEWIS

Rank outsider Layla caused a major boilover by claiming the $20,000 first prize in the QTIS 600 2YO Handicap (1100m) at Rockhampton’s TAB races at Callaghan Park yesterday.

Reluctant to leave the saddling enclosure pre-race in the conventional fashion, Layla (Tracy O’Hara) went on to atone for her bad manners by winning narrowly but convincingly from favourite Red Hussertati. In doing so, she became one of the longest race winners at Callaghan Park for ages, as she paid a TAB win dividend of approximately $67.

Winning trainer Jim Rundle admitted to being pleasantly surprised.

“She has always shown promise, but her form from two previous starts did look bad on paper,” Rundle said.

Most punters would concur, as Layla had finished eighth of 11 to Mundi Gully at Mackay, as well as seventh of eighth behind Craiglea Rawie on the Rockhampton sand track last December.

“Those runs were better than they appeared as we feel she may have been holding her breath during those races. I added blinkers and a tongue control bit and we rode her differently as well today. It is nice to win that QTIS 600 prize money,” Rundle said.

Rundle has been an active buyer at yearling sales and he has a sizeable team of young horses in training.

Consistent Forever Regal (CAN) gelding Forade (Renee Hinricks) saluted for the Leanne Applewaite stable by taking out the $12,000 Open Handicap (1600m).

The win was well deserved as Forade had been placed at his previous three outings at Callaghan Park.

Hinricks went on to make it a double when Exceed and Excel gelding Fleet’n’Fast proved much too good for his rivals in the Class 2 Handicap (970m).

Boom juvenile Mundi Gully had his colours well and truly lowered when missing a place and, on face value, he was disappointing despite a wide passage throughout the race.

Trainer Lyle Wright and jockey Luke Dillon sprang a surprise, combining with Classy Crystal to win the Open Handicap (970m) from a gutsy King Hunter (Hinricks).

Earlier, Sunshine Coast trainer Kim Craft produced Top Echelon filly Toptwo to win the Maiden Handicap (970m).