Racing: Imports pay off

Imported galloper Above Average pulled off a betting plunge after he appeared to be beaten in the straight at Caulfield before raising a late effort to make it a winning debut in Australia.

The High Chaparral 4-year-old was backed from as much as A$11 with TAB Sportsbet after acceptances on Thursday.

Yesterday the Lee Freedman-trained entire who was sent out A$3.90 equal favourite. Above Average, who had won one of 10 starts in England, gave the Ball And Chain Syndicate consecutive wins on a Saturday at Caulfield following the success of another import Fanjura who won at his Australian debut last week.

Another Ball And Chain horse prepared by Freedman, Sound Of Nature, made it a two-state double with his win in the Listed CS Hayes Memorial Cup (1600m) at Morphettville.

Above Average dived through towards the inside to beat Wind Shear (A$11) by a short half-head with Bird Of Fire (A$4.40) a nose away third.

The other equal favourite Georgia's Boy weakened to finish fifth after being in the first three in the run.

The victory also gave Freedman and jockey Dwayne Dunn a double at the meeting as import Savarain made a successful Australian debut in the Sky High Mt Dandenong Hcp (2000m) at his first run in nearly 18 months.

- AAP