Rothera shocks trainer in 2011 Eclipse Stakes

Rothera

Rothera shocked trainer Peter Moody by winning the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown

Bolter Rothera shocked even his trainer Peter Moody  by winning the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Sandown Hillsidetoday.

Moody had the six-year-old galloper booked to go back home to Queensland on Monday so unimpressed had he been with the lead up.

But Rothera not only won the race, he did it the hard way having being posted three wide without cover throughout.

What helped jockey Luke Nolen was the slow speed in the race set up by Platinum Passion.

And Rothera relished his step up to the 1800m for the first time.

Nolen moved Rothera to Platinum Passion and Lord Pyrus at the home turn and when expected to fold, he found more.

Taking charge at the 200m mark, Rothera ($21) defeated Folding Gear ($9.50) by a length and three quarters with Ulundi ($16) a long neck away third.

Both Folding Gear and Ulundi made ground from midfield but never looked a serious threat to the winner.

“I booked him on a truck back to Queensland on Monday as I thought he wasn’t doing enough,” Moody said.

“I might have to speak to the owner and reconsider .

“It was the best he had looked today and the owner and Luke wanted him to get out to this trip.

“Over this trip we might have opened a few more doors now.

“I was wondering what Luke was doing three wide but he read the race well and got away with it.”

Moody was asked about his lean Flemington Spring carnival outside Black Caviar.

“She helps you get over the pain, you can have 40 straight losers but  Black Caviar eases that.

“I have her home in the cupboard, nobody else has.”

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Starting Price
1 3 ROTHERA Peter G Moody Luke Nolen 8 56kg $21
2 9 FOLDING GEAR (NZ) Lee & Shannon Hope Brenton Avdulla 1.25L 5 53kg $9.50
3 11 ULUNDI Pat Carey Chris Symons 1.65L 1 53kg $16
4 4 LORD PYRUS (NZ) Judy Mawer Danny Nikolic 2.4L 9 54.5kg $6
5 2 EXTRA ZERO David Hayes Craig Williams 2.6L 4 56kg $6
6 1 GINGA DUDE (NZ) Graeme Boyd Michael Walker 3.1L 10 58kg $11
7 5 MAJESTIC MUSIC Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas Craig Newitt 3.5L 2 54kg $13
8 7 PLATINUM PASSION Michael Moroney Ms Lisa Cropp 3.6L 3 53kg $11
9 8 BELGIETTO Peter Gelagotis Dwayne Dunn 4.6L 7 53kg $9.50
10 10 RICEMAN Dean Saxon Peter Mertens 4.8L 11 53kg $81
11 6 EREWHON Peter Snowden Kerrin McEvoy 5.3L 6 53.5kg $4.80F

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