Smart three-year-old The Duke said farewell to racing for the season last night in winning style but things didn't exactly turn out as assistant trainer Casper Fownes had intended.
Lawrie Fownes retires this year under Jockey Club age retirement rules, and his son and assistant had been priming The Duke for a race on the final day. 'The original plan was to run him at the final meeting as a farewell present for Dad on his last day as a trainer,' Casper said.
'There was a lovely 1,400 metres race on for ratings 90 down to 70, but on Monday this week, the club announced that race was changed to an 85 to 65 race, ruling The Duke out of it.
'So we switched him to this one and he's done the job well. I'm really looking forward to taking over his training myself next season. It's just a terrible shame about the fall in the race behind him there.'
Anton Marcus was aboard The Duke for the first leg of his winning double.
On the same night as five jockeys came down in a horrifying fall, Shane Dye was incredibly lucky not to come to grief in the fourth race when his mount Best Ever was opening up with what looked to be a winning run.