TWELVE PUNTERS with 31 points shared the category two first dividend prize of $42,000 declared on last week's Racing Pools game with each one receiving $3,550.50.
The surprise, however, was that they all missed the 7-1 chance, MR. VIGOROUS who won the fifth race over the circular nine course in a driving finish from the favourite FRANCESCA'S DREAM.
With maximum 32 points eluding everyone, the carryover to this week's game is $60,867.10.
A breakdown of the others prizes is as follows:
44 second dividends of $276.60 each for 30 points.
204 third dividends of $29.80 each for 29 points.
Sales totalled $245,927.80 on 1,163 coupons, up appreciably on the last game on May 17, remembering that bad weather aborted the game on May 24.
On a day when champion jockey Trevor Simpson, fresh from an eight-day suspension, rode only one winner - CRUCIAL SEASON at 1-5 from several live rides, three other favourites were unsaddled in the winners' enclosure.
These were ADUKI, who went off at the surprisingly cramped odds of 8-5 in the second race which she proceeded to romp, PRINCESS ALEXANDRA, at 9-5 in the sixth, and FOREST FRESH, also at 2-1 in the closing race.
Other popular winners not starting favourites were JOHNNY'S KING at 2-1 in the third race, and 'Horse of the Year' I'MSATISFIED in the penultimate race for the Eileen Cliggott Trophy for top class horses.
JOHNNY'S KING was the first of three winners for top apprentice Paul Francis. The 26-year-old rider also won aboard PRINCESS ALEXANDRA and FOREST FRESH. With 29 winners so far this season, "Country" is a contender for the jockeys' championship.
The feature, run over 1300 metres, lived up to expectations as it resulted in a thrilling finish involving I'MSATISFIED under leading all-time jockey Winston Griffifths, MILLIMETRE with Simpson astride, and RAKKADASH under Trinidadian jockey Brian Harding. All three were saddled by 13-time champion trainer Philip Feanny.
I'MSATISFIED, toting the crushing impost of 59.0kg, showed why he's the reigning 'Horse of the Year' by taking top honours in a star-studded "A1' field - the best assembled for some time at the Park.
A MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB
The six-year-old son of The Medic-Midnight Angel apparently had a mountain to climb when outpaced in fifth position at the halfway stage. However "Fanna" Griffiths was content to bide his time off the blistering pace (22.3, 45.4, 11:11.4) before asking "Satisfied" to run from the top of the lane.
He closed rapidly in the middle to grab the lead from a brave RAKKADASH in the last 100 metres - at the same time holding on grimly by a head to thwart a late run from MILLIMETRE on the outside. It was Griffiths' 1,466 career win.
AWESOME POWER, the 4-5 favourite, could only manage fifth as her three-race unbeaten streak since the start of the season came to a screeching halt.
Despite failing to justify the favourite's tag, the speedy five-year-old mare was not disgraced - particularly as she was doubled-teamed by the Feanny pair of SPIRIT OF JAMAICA and RAKKADASH on the lead and was a spent force in the last furlong. Even then, she was only beaten three lengths.
- Orville Clarke
