Twinkleton upsets hot favourite

THE Graeme Shaw-trained Twinkleton proved again that there are few certainties in racing when he upset long odds-on favourite Croatian Quality at the Gold Coast today.
Croatian Quality, placed at her past two runs in Brisbane, certainly looked the one to beat against only four moderately-performed rivals in the Gillian Heinrich Maiden Plate (1800m) and was sent out the $1.40 favourite.
But the Barry Baldwin-trained Croatian Quality was never really travelling like an odds-on favourite should and looked vulnerable all the way down the home straight.
Unplaced at her previous eight starts, Twinkleton started at $16 but wore down the favourite in the dying stages to score by a short head.
“I thought he would improve a bit in today’s race, but I didn’t think we could beat the favourite and we would have been happy to run second,’’ said Shaw. “We gave the runner-up 5kg, so I thought our job looked impossible.’’
Twinkleton was is raced by owner Elizabeth Fraser who also bred the four-year-old.
Mrs Fraser raced horses with her late husband in New Zealand for many years before establishing her own property near Canungra nine years ago.
Her first winner was with Peppseelon at the Gold Coast last October.
“I only have the two of them racing with Graeme at the moment but have a few more coming along,’’ she said.
“Twinkleton is by Show A Heart and Peppseelon is by Falvelon. We were hopeful of running well today, but surprised he’s been able to beat that favourite considering the weight difference.’’
Peppseelon ran a game second later in the day behind Noble Jester in the Bryan Guy Class 2 Hcp (1800m).
Story: Neil Archer
Photo: Trackside Photography Pty Ltd