Money Miser, Bern Notice create O & S upsets

MONEY MISER and BERN NOTICE upstaged Americans, DIGITAL ONE and PROVOCATIVA, who disappointed as howling favourites in divisions one and two, respectively, of yesterday’s O & S Tack Room Trophy feature event at a mile.

MONEY MISER sat third off cracking splits set by 11-1 outsider BURLAP being chased by DIGITAL ONE, who had uncharacteristically missed the break. Though rushed to go second, DIGITAL ONE was no match for BURLAP, who tore away down the backstretch to race seven lengths clear in a half-mile split of 45.3.

The torrid pace took a toll on BURLAP coming off the curve but DIGITAL ONE was not able to capitalise, extending her winless streak to five races among overnight-allowance company this season after winning three consecutive races as a two-year-old late last season against local-bred runners.

Stalking under leading jockey Tevin Foster, MONEY MISER made his move approaching the home turn, bearing down on DIGITAL ONE trying to get on terms with BURLAP.

MONEY MISER attacked as a team with POWER FROM ABOVE, who had improved from last down the backstretch to pose a threat on the outside.

DIGITAL ONE tried rallying from against the rail. However, four-year-old MONEY MISER, who had beaten half of last December’s Grade One Mouttet Mile field, finishing seventh of 15 runners, lengthened strides a furlong and a half out to pull clear of DIGITAL ONE.

POWER FROM ABOVE closed menacingly in mid-track to which Foster responded by switching to left-hand whipping close home, drifting MONEY MISER left to meet his challenger.

MONEY MISER stayed on strongly for a two-length victory in 1:40.0, almost two seconds faster than recent $1 million claim, BERN NOTICE, who landed division two in 1:41.4, a gaping chasm in class after even-money favourite PROVOCATIVA sputtered on her first outing for owner-trainer Oral Hayden.

After breaking sharply and disputing the lead with SHE’S MY FRIEND and OASIS JAK, PROVOCATIVA chucked the gallop leaving the three-furlong marker. OASIS JAK, who was eased off the pace, surged forward to take over SHE’S MY FRIEND, racing clear into the lane.

However, OASIS JAK, who had never gone past five and a half furlongs in eight starts, was always leading on borrowed time and suspect stamina, which BERN NOTICE exposed with a slow march inside the final furlong to wear down the American filly close home, winning by a half-length at odds of 5-1, closing a two-timer for claiming rider Shavon Townsend.

Foster left it late to re-establish his three-win lead, 89-86, ahead of Roman in their battle atop the jockeys’ title race. After his strong ride aboard MONEY MISER, he returned to close the 11-race card with SMALL BOSS, moving to 89 wins.

Roman had come within one winner of the leading rider after landing the opening event with SCHLESINGER and booting home NATURAL DANCER in the eighth.

Racing continues at the weekend with a Saturday-Sunday meet, the first weekend of back-to-back racing in a month.