Roy Rogers in 92-1 stunner

ROY ROGERS survived a stewards’ enquiry, stunning all but trainer Dennis Lee, at odds of 92-1, after appearing to take out ROJORN DI PILOT, down along the rail, four and a half furlongs out in yesterday’s 10th event at six furlongs.

Partnered by female apprentice Samantha Fletcher and running with 108lb, lightest in the 14-horse line-up, which featured three runners who had beaten him into fifth place at five and a half furlongs, three weeks ago, ROY ROGERS proved the value of weight in handicapping, returning much lighter than his rivals, due to his rider’s nine-pound apprentice claim.

Breaking sharply from post-position four, Fletcher kept ROY ROGERS up with the leaders, ROJORN DI PILOT, WESTERN WHEELS and PRINCE CHARLES in a tight bunch, but caused problems when her mount appeared to shy from the fray, badly hindering ROJORN DI PILOT before the half-mile marker came up.

In control of the rail, Fletcher pushed ROY ROGERS to the front, three and a half furlongs out, past WESTERN WHEELS, PRINCE CHARLES and full-of-running AMERICAN INVADER, who made a bid for the lead coming off the home turn.

Ridden out by apprentice Raddesh Roman, AMERICAN INVADER collared ROY ROGERS inside the last furlong and appeared as if she would have run by. However, the rail-running grey, 11lb lighter than the American filly, found a second wind and rallied strongly a half-furlong out to inch away, winning by three-quarter length.

While most were left surprised, and even more so at the stewards’ decision to let ROY ROGERS number stand, Lee said he was not surprised.

“They all went up in weight and I ran wide the whole way last time out,” he said, referring to ROY ROGERS breaking from post-position eight, ironically with Roman astride, on September 7.

Meanwhile, Dane Dawkins, back home on break from his stint in North America, combined with trainer Ian Parsard to land the first two events on the 11-race card with COCO CHANEL and CLASSY MISS, sharing riding honours with Roman, who won the fifth and night pan with BUCKALUCK and SUMMER SUN, respectively.

SUMMER Sun closed a two-timer for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta whose SURE COTE stormed home to outfinish TREVOR’S CHOICE at five furlongs straight in the sixth race.

Racing continues with back-to-back meets for Superstakes weekend, Saturday and Sunday.