Racing: Stablemates slug it out to the wire

Outstanding trainers can be wrong.

Even champion jockeys.

Trainer Jim Gibbs was "pretty sure" Devoted could beat stablemate Vaalu on Saturday.

That was one hour before the race - rider Leith Innes believed Gibbs was right seven strides from the winning post.

Vaalu shot ahead in the home straight and for 200m looked to be holding Devoted, the $2.65 favourite.

But when Devoted lunged close to the finish, Innes yelled to Michael Coleman: "I've got you Mickey."

Innes was wrong by a short neck and his mate gave him a ribbing in the jockeys' room.

Gibbs said both horses were heading for the $150,000 Easter Handicap at Ellerslie and Devoted gave the impression he would improve slightly more than Vaalu.