Aysar had played up in the stalls on arriving at the track and was found to be lame after injuring his off-hind leg and was scratched two hours before post time.
While it was unfortunate for trainers Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes, it did boost the chances of the Symon Wilde-prepared Allibor, who took kindly to the addition of blinkers to down Sweet Reply (Deep Field).
The 3-year-old sat one off the fence and within sight of the leaders and in a driving finish he proved too tough under rider Dean Yendall for the Richard and Michael Freedman-trained filly.
“It was a reasonably good watch early and Dean gave him a great spin. It’s a long straight and he needed every inch of it,” Wilde stable representative Liam Hoy said.
“I’m proud of the horse and the team, it’s a great thrill. It was a little bit of an afterthought to run in the Guineas and condolences to Hayes and Dabernig, Aysar was obviously the horse to beat.
“I’m proud of the horse and the team, it’s a great thrill.” – Liam Hoy
“You need a lot of luck in this game and it was on our side today. I’m so rapt for Symon and the team, they work very hard both at Warrnambool and Ballarat.”
Allibor finished runner-up in his first two appearances and then handled a rise in class well when fourth in the Listed Springtime S. at Flemington behind the progressive Shelby Corby (Toronado {Ire}).
The decision was made to add blinkers on Saturday and it proved a masterstroke.
“He’s such a laid back customer and doesn’t exert himself at all. They made him a bit more tractable, especially over the mile and got him a pair closer and that might have been the difference,” Hoy said.
“I know you’re not supposed to have favourites, but I have a real soft spot for this horse.”
Allibor (pink cap)
Seven-day back-up
Yendall said the only pre-race concern he had was whether Allibor would handle the seven-day back-up.
“He ran really well at Flemington and they went too solid a tempo for him to tack on and it was well-scripted how he finished off his last furlong and picked off a few stragglers late,” Yendall said.
“The mile was never going to be an issue and thankfully the team stuck with me. It’s good to get a win for Symon, he and I are a solid combination and hopefully that continues.”
“It’s good to get a win for Symon, he and I are a solid combination and hopefully that continues.” – Dean Yendall
Allibor was bought by Wilde and Cameron Cooke Bloodstock for $60,000 out of Blue Gum Farm’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft.
He was then re-offered at the Inglis Ready to Race Sale, but failed to meet his $100,000 reserve and with Saturdays winning $150,000 cheque in the bank that has proved a blessing.
Allibor as a yearling
Sweet Reply, who assumed the role of favourite with Aysar’s scratching, sat at the back of the field and came on well, but had every chance.
The well-bred Valanetti (Snitzel) completed a stellar day for owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, who won the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton with Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), by taking third and an all-important black type credit.
“We’ve always liked her and she’s out of Gallica, who Mick trained to win a Guineas, so it’s nice to get some black type,” said Price’s training partner Michael Kent Jnr.
“We had her in the Listed Twilight Glow S. and they kept the nominations open for this race and it didn’t look overly strong so we put her in.”
