South Australian youngster Fire Thunderbolt defied a betting drift and a steep rise in class to win the Listed Streets Ice Cream Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
A winner in Adelaide at his only previous start Fire Thunderbolt was unwanted by punters, easing from $5 to $7 before cruising to a three-length win over first-starter Mandla.
In a race as remarkable for the presence in the field of jockey Damien Oliver, who suffered a heavy fall at Moonee Valley on Friday night, as for the performance of the winner, Fire Thunderbolt is now likely to be rested before tackling more black-type races in Adelaide later in the season.
“We have a few races in mind during the carnival in Adelaide, they all look within his range after today,” trainer Phillip Stokes said.
Fire Thunderbolt settled in the second half of the field and looked like getting tangled up with a couple of wayward runners until jockey Craig Williams switched him to the inside of the Flemington straight track in the 1000m event.
Once in the clear, the gelding stretched out strongly and quickly put the race away.
“That was a really, really strong win,” Williams said.
“They weren’t sure how he’d go on the wet track but he handled it very well.
“I’d say he’ll go on with it wherever they send him.”
Oliver missed a place on his mount Razeena, but after his adventures at Moonee Valley he considers himself fortunate to be riding at all.
Oliver’s mount Like An Eagle snapped both his front legs and fell soon after the start and the jockey was speared into the turf.
He spent a few hours at the Epworth Hospital under observation but was allowed home late on Friday night.
“I was a bit sore here and there, but I couldn’t find any reason not to ride,” Oliver said.
Oliver then proved his fitness with victory aboard the imported stayer Drunken Sailor in the next race, the Roy Higgins Quality (2600m).