Fast Clip wins the 2011 Tullock Stakes

In fact the favourite was never in the race, being ridden further back in the field as an experiment today but you can bet they won’t do it again with the horse performing 100 times better when run on the pace.

It wasn’t the only questionable ride either with second favourite Blackie somehow managing to end up mid-field, three wide without cover after jumping from gate six.

From the jump Shootoff went to the front with Space Satation and they set the tempo early but slowed the pace right down after about 600m.

That left Fast Clip is the perfect spot one back on the rails with I Think I Do in close quaters and Retrieve behind them.

As they made the turn for home Shoot Off had taken up the lead and was running strongly with Fast Clip presented with a run and all the main contenders having their chance.

Blackie had nothing left after putting in so much needless work and Retrieve just doesn’t have the closing kick of genuine home strait horse.

Fast Clip grabbed the lead in the final 400m and was never going to lose the race from a fast finishing I Think I Do in second place.

Shoot Off had a last minute betting plunge from punters and did enough to give some reward with third place.

This race hasn’t done a lot to make things clear for the Darby and if anything has made it more difficult with good runs from the winners but plenty of excuses available for the two favourites after either poor rides or poor pre-race instructions.

Gai Waterhouse said this was ‘such an exciting horse’ but was leaning towards a spell rather than continuing further into the season.

Jockey Nash Rawiller may have something to say about that though with big wraps on the horse and hopes of a Darby ride.

“We thought going into the race there was a possibility he was vulnerbale but he relaxed beautifully and showed a really good turn of foot,” rawiller said.

When asked if he’d try and talk Waterhouse out of spelling the horse he said, “that’s something we’ll need to discuss later”.

Tulloch Stakes Results – 2011 Golden Slipper Day

The 2010 AAMI Victoria Derby has attracted a capacity final field of 16 three-year-olds plus four emergencies, with the early betting markets totally dominated by two runners.

Currently AAMI Vase winner Rekindled Interest is the favourite paying $3.50 at Luxbet, but Peter Snowden’s consistent colt Retrieve is drawn ideally in barrier two and is challenging at $3.70.

With record rainfall scheduled in Victoria before and on Saturday, known wet trackers are sure to shorten in the markets, which included Retrieve who won the Norman Robinson Stakes on a Heavy track at Caulfield last start.

The only other Victoria Derby contender at single figure odds is improving Savabeel gelding Digital Fortress ($8.50) drawn wide in barrier 14 but another mudlark that will thrive in the conditions.

With so many classy three-year-olds capable of an upset on Saturday, especially with a rain-affected track looking likely, punters can find great value in the Victoria Derby field.

Longer-priced entries with claims include Almindoro ($10) who finished second to Retrieve in the Norman Robinson, Kiwi-bred colt Praecido ($17) and Duelled gelding Shootoff ($34).

The 2010 Victoria Derby is scheduled as Race 6 at Flemington on Saturday, due to jump at 2:55pm (AEDST), and is accompanied by eight other Group race features.

2010 Victoria Derby Field, Barriers & Odds

*Odds provided by Luxbet and are subject to change

Shootoff, a son of Duelled, showed real potential last start when the two-year-old claimed a classy three-quarter length victory in the Chifley Handicap (1550m) at Kensington, Randwick.

His Randwick-based trainer Graeme Rogerson is now looking towards the riches of the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival for Shootoff’s spring campaign.

The breakthrough victory at Randwick was Shootoff’s maiden win in his three career starts, and also the first victory credited to his sire Duelled.

Rogerson is now hopeful of their Victoria Derby prospects at the end of the year after he prepared Duelled for the 2005 Derby, where he ran a gallant second to Benicio.

Bets are on that Shootoff, purchased for $35,000 at the Ready To Run Sale at Karaka, can do one better than his sire in the 2010 Victoria Derby.

Shootoff will next contest a 1600m juvenile’s race at Warwick Farm on July 14 before moving onto Sydney spring features including the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill and the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in October.

Then, all going to plan, Shootoff will travel down to Victoria for the Melbourne Cup Carnival and Victoria Derby held on October 30.

The $1.5 million Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) is the feature three-year-olds race of the Flemington Cup Carnival, held on the opening meeting on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup.