Punters and casual racing followers in pubs and clubs around the country surely would have cashed in on the omen bet and $61 pop Free Beer at Morphettville on Saturday.
But the beer and other spirits also were flowing on track when the Justin Pickering-trained two-year-old debutant got up in a thriller to win a 1050m maiden with the chant of Free Beer coming loud and clear in the mounting yard and stands.
Ridden a heady race by apprentice Jacob Opperman the winner saluted by a nose from another first timer Shadowfax ($19) with favourite Ouroboros a head away in third. Pickering also pre-trained the Chris Bieg runner Shadowfax in a quinella which paid $186.
A shell-shocked Pickering, who chalked up his first Saturday metro winner, could not believe his luck.
Last Wednesday was a bittersweet moment for him when All Beans won but subsequently copped a ban for bleeding.
On Saturday, Pickering gave Free Horse a chance of running well but not necessarily finding himself in the winner’s enclosure.
The gelding had run fourth in a Murray Bridge trial and had a couple of jumpouts without dominating.
“I didn’t expect to win but I thought if he was within striking distance he would run OK,” Pickering said.
“This is a massive thrill. There are about 15 to 17 people in ownership and with the name I had other preferences but this one was done from near the bottom of my pile, but it got picked.”
Some of the ownership are first-time owners with one of the syndicates in the ownership known as Why The Long Face, managed by Liam Lusty.
The owner responsible for Free Beer’s name, Mike Slate, but not a first-time owner, said he was having a bit of fun with thinking about possible names.
“People always look up when you go somewhere and shout out ‘free beer’ so I thought we would do the same and the name got through,” Slate said.
“I had $50 each-way on him so I hope the others had a bit as well.”
In another quirk Free Beer did not race in Pickering’s usual race colours but in the genie logo colours of one of the owner’s workplace at Solomon’s Flooring at Lonsdale.
Opperman brought up a race-to-race double when Chipson ($17), trained by Jeff Searle, finished too well for Delightful Shecky and Zac’s Back in a 1500m Benchmark 68.
Favourite punters looking for respite were hammered into near submission when $101 pop Laelaps drove through on the rail to edge out Rialtor and Son Of Bielski in a 1500m Benchmark 68. Trained by Warrnambool-based Patrick Ryan Junior and ridden by Harry Grace the winner silenced the crowd with a determined finish. The Ryan/Grace pair were more on the punters’ side when well-fancied Ferago proved too strong in a 2500m handicap, a double for the combo.
The duo then made a good day a fantastic one when Rivkin ($9), carrying the heaviest winning weight (60.5kg) for the day, charged to victory over 1200m – giving Ryan his first training treble.
Picargo ($4.40) showed what a terrific money-spinner he was with a gritty win over 1200m. Trained by Ryan Balfour with Alana Livesey on board, the ultra-consistent performer has chalked up eight victories and 16 placings from 34 starts.
Cool The Jets gave the Peter and Belinda Blanch training combo the perfect start to the day with a strong win in a 1200m maiden. Sitting well off the pace the $3.60 chance stormed home with Dom Tourneur on board to win easily from the improved Rubini ($26) and My Boy Jett ($14).
Danish Fortune (Jess Eaton for Darren McLeod) and Exalted Ruth (Sophie Logan for Garret Lynch) won when the rain set in later in the day.