Most expected Mathew Ellerton, Simon Zahra, Damien Thorton and First Light Racing to successfully combine with Zac De Boss (NZ) (Zacinto) early on the Flemington card but rather it was the unfancied Island Joy (NZ) (Hinchinbrook) who provided them with success on Saturday.
Zac De Boss ($2.45 favourite) incurred his first defeat at his third start in the $135,000 Mumm Royale (1400m) at benchmark 70 level for three-year-olds.
The son of Zacinto won seven days earlier at Caulfield despite his inclination to lay inwards over the concluding stages but paid the price for his greenness at Flemington, finishing third behind Milton Park (Written Tycoon) and El Salto (Written Tycoon).
“He picked them up but he just did a lot wrong up the straight,” Zahra said. “Probably the back-up might have just got him and the 60kg.”
“We were happy enough with him. Probably freshen him up and maybe have a look at something in February or March. We’ve always had (an opinion) but he just does a lot wrong.”
Island Joy also raced at Caulfield last Saturday and was the source of great frustration to Zahra when the Hinchinbrook filly was held up in the straight in a 1400-metre three-year-old fillies race.
“I wish she had have got out last week – it would have been a $20,000 result,” Zahra said, reflecting on his losing multi bet. “But he (Thornton) rode her well today.”
Island Joy atoned against mares over 1600 metres at Flemington in the $125,000 Furphy Crisp Lager Handicap (1600m), making the most of an inside run to win by 4.25 lengths.
Ellerton and Zahra won two Flemington races with horses managed by syndication group First Light Racing as Damian Lane steered Zesty Belle to victory down the straight in the $135,000 TAB Long May We Play Sprint (1100m) for three-year-old fillies.
Island Joy was purchased by owners First Light Racing out of Westbury Stud’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Sale draft for $105,000.
