RUSSIAN WINS UNDERWOOD
The punters kept backing him and Russian Camelot produced what they wanted to see as Australasia's most exciting horse took his second Group 1 as a clear winner of the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Backed into $1.55 after as much as $1.95 had been bet earlier in the morning, Russian Camelot worked to find a spot in second place behind leader Trap For Fools and then Damien Oliver let him free on the home turn and he ran away to beat Humidor and Arcadia Queen.
Watch Post Race Interview with trainer Danny O'Brien
Watch Post Race Interview with jockey Damien Oliver
Trainer Danny O'Brien, who has won a Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and a Melbourne Cup, said his veteran of just seven starts was the best horse he'd had anything to do with.
Russian Camelot goes next to the G1 Caulfield Stakes before tackling the Cox Plate at what will be his ninth race start and then the Melbourne Cup at his 10th start.
O'Brien said post-race: "It's really exciting to see him produce performances like this so early in his career.
"There's been a lot of hype around him, people are expecting things like this, so it's really exciting to see him go out there and get it done.
"I think he's the best horse I've had anything to do with, particularly to do so much so early in his career.
"He's a magnificent colt and we're thrilled that he's got this done today and hopefully it's not the end of the spring for him."
O'Brien said he had not necessarily planned to lead: "We had a few discussions about it and I got sick of talking about it in the end. I said 'Damien, you're on the best horse and you're the best jockey, you guys will sort it out when you get out there'.
"He's always going to ride the race to how it pans out and today he did a beautiful job."
Oliver said: "He's an exciting horse and it's a pleasure to be riding him.
"He's always shown us so much. It is a bit of an ask for a horse so early in his career - only seven starts and he's still only a three-year-old taking on these horses.
"He's been a boom horse his whole career and it's nice when they can fulfill it."
Oliver said went out with an open mind as to where he would settle in the run.
"He's kind of a classic weight-for-age horse. He has the ability to sit on the pace and also to sit back. I wanted to keep my options open. I (didn't have) a rock-solid plan to sit there, but it was an option.
"When he broke clean and when he was able to get up there easily, I thought that it was better to grab the race by the scruff of the neck and give him his chance rather than being back in the ruck and having to make up a ton of ground."
The horse's manners have seen some problems, particularly with the barriers, but Oliver said he saw some improvement.
"He's improving all the time, his manners," he said. "His demeanour, you've got to remember that he's only early in his career and he's going to continue to improve."
As for whether he's a Cox Plate horse?
"Yeah, he could well be. It's a nice preparation for him. I like the fact that he's running fortnightly because he can be a bit fresh," Oliver said.
"Getting the racing into him now, he's got a good foundation. Danny's done a great job preparing him, so looking forward to races ahead."
Trainer Phillip Stokes was deflated with Mr Quickie's seventh placing: "I was (disappointed). I thought he presented really good today. He got out and obviously gave that winner too (much of a) head start.
"I thought he'd run second, but he didn't. I actually don't think he's run the trip out. He's probably better coming back to a mile. Fresh form always says he runs well and that's something we might have to think about."
Craig Williams said dual Cox Plate placegetter Humidor would be ready for another tilt this year.
"He's doing so much right," Williams said. "He ran into a superstar today.
"He was able to jump out nicely, he's racing kind, he's not hanging in and he's showing that great acceleration in the straight. He's in for a cracking Cox Plate this year."
Story by Andrew Eddy for Racing.com
Pic by Racing Photos