Upset win shocked all bar one

IT APPEARS there is only one person who isn’t shocked by Rishi’s victory at Tabcorp Park Melton tonight.

Capturing the Smoken Up Sprint, Rishi caused a major upset as the despised $120 rank outsider.

While punters and form experts gave the son of Bettors Delight little to no hope in the Group Two, trainer Lance Justice never doubted Rishi’s ability to win against such strong opposition.

“I knew all he needed was the race to be run to suit and he’d be finishing strongly,” Justice said. “As it turned out he made his own luck down the back and around the last turn and finished it off too well for them.”

Driven by Michael Bellman, Rishi was settled towards the tail of the field from his second row draw as Cruz led from barrier two and raging favourite Ride High was forced to work hard in the ‘death seat’.

Last with 500 metres to travel, Rishi was taken three-wide without cover as Ride High forged his way to the front.

Sustaining a remarkable sprint, Rishi grabbed the lead in the shadows of the post to score by a neck from Major Times, with Code Black seven-and-a-half metres away third.

Rating 1:50.2 over 1720 metres, the six-year-old provided Justice with a sentimental win as the former trainer of Smoken Up.

“This bloke will never be a Smoken Up, but he is the star of the stable tonight,” Justice said. “There weren’t many moves in the race and Michael summed it up brilliantly.

“Michael made his run at the perfect time and got the most out of the horse up the straight.”

Owned by prominent industry identity John Hawke, Rishi will be given “an easy day or two” before being readied for next week’s Victoria Cup.

“That run should get him into the Victoria Cup,” Justice said. “His form has been solid with three wins and two thirds from his last seven starts, but tonight’s win should get him into the big one next week.”