Jockey Kelvin Wharton’s celebrations after a lengthy injury layoff continued with an upset victory aboard bookie’s hope Crystal Doll at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Crystal Doll, who started at the juicy odds of $71, held off the fast-finishing Cariad ($10) to score by a half-length in the Lyndhurst Stud Handicap (1200m).
Risk Aversion ($2.40 fav) let her supporters down finishing a short half-head away third.
Crystal Hope is trained by Darryle Brusnahan who landed his second win in eight days following a similar surprise win from Savage River at Doomben last Saturday.
Brusnahan was enjoying a short holiday in Fiji and missed Crystal Doll record the third win of her 15-start career and collect the winning prize cheque of $64,000.
Wharton was a regular rider for many years in Brisbane but is now based at Gympie and rarely rides trackwork because of injury problems.
“It’s nice to get a Saturday winner again in town,” Wharton said.
“I’ve been out of action for about three months with a bulging disc in my back and Savage River’s win last week was my first win in town for a while.
“This will be a good kickalong for me but my wife will probably go out and spend the money now.”
Wharton didn’t underestimated Crystal Doll’s chances despite her lengthy odds with the bookmakers.
“I rode my first winner about seven years ago for Darryle and I’ve known him a long time,” Wharton said.
“She ran a good race last start when she ran fourth (in the Listed Nudgee Handicap) and she really let down nicely.”
Trainer Tony Gollan was once again left to find excuses for Cariad.
“I’m not sure what to say. When you have a bad trot you have a bad trot,” Gollan said.
“This was the fifth second I’ve had in the city in the past two weeks.”
Trainer Michael Lakey took some comfort from Risk Aversion’s effort to finish third.
The four-year-old, who was ridden by Chris Munce, was having her first start since winning at Doomben in September and appeared a little sluggish out of the barriers.
“Chris was happy enough with the run and she’s always had a tendency to be a little slow away,” Lakey said.
“Even in jumpouts she can be back in the ruck a little.
“The way she hit the line she could be looking for further.”
Lakey will now reconsider his preferred option to tackle the Listed Falvelon Quality (1200m) at Eagle Farm on February 25.