After 14 lifetime starts limited to dirt, Chili King Stables’ Vino Bambino made his turf debut a winning one coming from far back to win by a head in the Grade III Troy Handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf at SAR. After struggling in a variety of dirt sprint stakes, including a third in the seven-furlong Grade I Carter Handicap at AQU, his connections tested him on the turf and decided there was enough there to give the turf a chance. The betting public didn’t agree and sent the colt off as a 50-1 longshot.

Mb Stables “other” starter, Treasure Trove, was sent off as a 8-1 longshot and finished a fast closing second coming from well back, but unable to hold the winner at the wire. Mb Stables’ main entry, Gleaming Spirit, was the 9-5 favourite and was never a factor in the race.

Team 7 Illusions had a group of three entries of which two finished third and fourth. Snakes On A Game finished with courage, but was unable to hold the first two and wound up third at 8-1 while Corroya took the lead from the start and led the way into the stretch before weakening a bit to finish fourth three-quarters of a length back as a 12-1 shot.

Our choice for victory, John Henry’s Theory, was a strong-finishing fifth at nearly 10-1.

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