Allan Sharrock’s Wellington Cup plan came unstuck, with the trainer’s two favourites failing to deliver in the Group 3 race yesterday.
Sharrock had the two overwhelming favourites in Ladies Man ($2.20) and Waisake ($4.80), with no other horse shorter than $13. However, neither placed, with Ladies Man finishing fourth and Waisake 5.8 lengths back in ninth as enigmatic galloper Leaderboard pulled off a stunning 50-1 triumph in the 3200m race.
The Mark Walker-trained horse has always looked a progressive stayer, including finishing third in the 2021 Group3 New Zealand Cup (3200m), but had also disappointed on occasions when troubled with a series of niggles, including some foot issues.
A disappointing lead-up run in the Listed Marton Cup earlier in the month saw punters let him start at long odds yesterday but he defied those to post his seventh career victory.
Irish jockey Joe Doyle and Leaderboard went for gold in the run home and established a winning break, as Contemplation fought back to reduce the margin to a length at the line, with stablemate and topweight Dionysus third.