Favourite backers were stunned and left with empty pockets after Essington stood in the barriers and lost all hope in the AAMI Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Essington ($2.60 fav) was having his first start for Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds but stood flat-footed in the barriers and was last to jump.
A stunned jockey Chris Munce was shaking his head in disbelief when he returned to the enclosure on the five-year-old who was having his first start since failing on a slow track in the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes at Doomben in December.
“What can I say, he just stood there,” Munce said.
“He won’t be able to win any of the better races if he does that again.”
Despite his defeat, Munce was happy with Essington’s effort to flash home from last on the home turn for fourth.
Edmonds, who took over the gelding’s training from disqualified trainer Darryl Hansen, was speechless after the flop.
The race was won by Mr Armstrong ($16) who romped home by 3-1/2 lengths over The Sixties ($6) with Tierqualo ($7) a neck away third.
Mr Armstrong, who also was resuming from a break, was having his first start for Sydney trainer John Thompson.
The six-year-old is owned by Nathan Tinkler’s father Les and was previously trained at Port Macquarie by Wayne Wilkes.
“I expected him to run well but the way he did it really surprised me,” Patinack Farm’s foreman Brett Killion said.
“He’s got a good first-up record but I didn’t expect to see him win like that.
“It makes up for the three beaten favourites we’ve had during the day and it’ll make the drive back home a little better.”
Killion was unsure of Mr Armstrong’s future assignments in Queensland.
Earlier trainer Brian Smith declared the Brisbane winter carnival was on the radar for General Purple following the gelding’s successful comeback in the St Margaret’s Anglican Girl Schools Handicap (1200m).
General Purple ($8.50) held on for a commanding 1-1/4 length win over Bingo Rose ($4.40) with Catch The Light ($18), a further three-quarters of a length away third.
The six-year-old, who had never previously won first-up, was having his first start since finishing seventh on a heavy track to Spot On Target at Eagle Farm last August.
“He’s come back bigger and stronger than ever and he’ll definitely be aimed at some of the better winter races now,” Smith said.
“It was a great ride by the kid and he deserves a big wrap.”
General Purple, who has now won seven of his 34 starts, was ridden by apprentice Anthony Allen, who landed his third city success on the son of General Nediym.
