Veteran mare Chelsea Toff went from an unlikely runner to stunning winner at St Arnaud with a ground-saving ride from her jockey, Will Gordon.
The nine-year-old only scraped into the field as a third emergency and capitalised on her opportunity, storming home from last along the rails in Saturday’s Ridley BM56 Hcp (1100m).
Despite her age, Chelsea Toff is racing in career best form with two wins from her last three starts.
Her rearward racing pattern means she can be prone to misfortune, with an example just two starts ago when she had to circle the field from last at Gunbower and was beaten only 2-1/2 lengths into fourth place.
Four of her five wins have been since joining the Malady stable two years ago.
Stable foreman Asher Trom-Wright bought her for $3000.
She’s only had 40 starts and her career earnings stand at $137,280, of which Asher has banked $83,410.
Punters have regularly overlooked Chelsea Toff, and all her wins for the stable have been at double-figure odds; her last three wins at $26 and $20 at Echuca and on Saturday at $21.
Trainer Vincent Malady said Chelsea Toff was a strong finisher and praised Will Gordon’s steer on the mare.
“It was a great ride. He didn’t go around a horse, and it was the difference between winning and losing.”
Chelsea Toff settled second last in the 10-horse field and was at the rear eight lengths off the lead rounding the home turn.
With runners chopping up the track, the field fanned looking for better going, but Will took the shortcut, and Chelsea Toff did the rest.
She collared the leaders at the 100 metres and surged clear to score a 3/4 length victory over Intimeofneed ($2.60) and favourite Hughie ($2.35).