OUR CHIEF RELISHES BACK-UP

The Danny O'Brien stable brought two horses to Flemington on the seven-day backup and it proved a winning formula as three-year-old gelding Our Chief ran out a strong victor.

Having hit the line well last week over 1600m, Our Chief was backed into favouritism in the Australian Guineas Day, February 28, a three-year-old handicap over 2000m.

Michael Dee landed in a great spot aboard the son of Tagaloa and while Johnich tried hard, Our Chief ultimately came away to score by a long neck, with The Mean Fiddler battling on for third.

Stable representative Jack Howard said the decision to geld Our Chief had made all the difference.

"It's probably 12 months nearly to the day that we decided to geld him and the owners backing our decision to do that has really made this horse," Howard said.

"He's a really tough gelding for a great group of owners down from Bendigo. Glad he got the win, it's going to make the bus trip back to Bendigo a lot nicer." Howard said about the big group of owners.

The likes of Bold Soul and Dunkel have used this race as a successful lead in to the Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m), but no plans have been made by O'Brien stable for Our Chief.

"He'll probably have a couple of weeks and we'll plot him through," Howard said.

"Just exciting to have people at the races that are up and about and they've got a nice horse and they can have some fun going forward."

The ride was a pick up ride for Dee, as Mark Zahra was originally booked for the race however he was injured at the trials on Thursday which saw him have to forgo the ride.

"Mark's bad luck, has been my good luck," Dee said post race.

"This horse impressed me the whole race.  I feel off this win today that he will get further as he was still going strong through the line."

Story by Trent Crebbin for Racing And Sports

Pic by Racing Photos